Glentoran v Glenavon
Tuesday 14 November 2017, 7.45pm.
On Tuesday evening we play host to Glenavon in a match rearranged from Saturday.
Since we drew our fourth league game of the season 2-2 at Mourneview at the end of August, Glenavon have been on a strong run of form, losing just one league match as they have moved into second place, eight points behind leaders Coleraine. This will be a tough one but the team needs to show up from the start after a disappointing run of home performances. Calum Birney (ankle) and Nathan Kerr (groin) aren’t likely to make it while James Knowles has struggled with a slight groin injury.
Manager Gary Haveron said: “Last Monday we were forced to grind out a draw against a much improved Ballymena side. We were poor in the first half as I felt we struggled against their style of play, which is to go long and very direct very quickly. They have 2 very mobile strikers and try and get in behind you early. But we showed a lot of character and we come out the 2nd half fighting. I felt the introduction of Dylan Davidson changed the game in our favour. We have missed Dylan’s his quality delivery and direct style since his injury in August. At just 18 he really has become a big player for us and I attribute our inconsistent form of late to the loss of Dylan and John McGuigan from the squad - they were my first 2 signings for this season because of the energy and quality they bring. Thankfully Dylan is now back involved and almost back to full fitness, while John had surgery on his knee last week. The surgeon was happy with it and John is progressing well and will hopefully be back by late December/start of January.
Monday evening sees us take on a Glenavon side that is pushing Coleraine at the top of the table so from the start we need to show the same spirit we did in the second half last Monday. Although we'll miss Calum and Nathan, Robbie McDaid trained on Saturday and should be okay to play following a suspected fractured cheekbone after he took an elbow to the face against Ballymena. Tre Sterling has done well at right back so he’ll stay there, while James Ferrin is now over a niggling hamstring injury that has kept him out of the squad for a few weeks. He’ll come back into contention. We had a recovery session on Tuesday, trained Thursday and Saturday this week so we have prepared well and thoroughly for the Glenavon match so I’m confident the lads will be in the right, positive frame of mind for the game".
The Board of Directors at Glentoran Football Club would again request that all supporters travelling to the Oval by private car consider the local residents when deciding where and how to park.