Dungannon Swifts v Glentoran
Saturday 30th December, 3.00pm.
This Saturday we look to build on our Boxing Day “Big Two” victory with another win on our second visit of the season to Stangmore Park.
Swifts are two places and five points behind us in the table, having played one game more. On our last visit we ran out 0-2 winners due to early goals from Curtis Allen and Calum Birney while in August at the Oval we won by the same scoreline through second half goals from Curtis and John McGuigan. However we will need to be on top of our game from the start as we’ve played Swifts in this game for the past two year and haven’t won either – throwing away a 2-0 half time lead to draw 2-2 and losing 3-1 at Stangmore on New Year’s Day 2016.
Swifts had a similar pre Boxing Day December to us. They won at Ballinamallard on Boxing Day to secure their first win and first goal since the end of November.
It has been a mixed season overall for the Swifts, who recovered from losing their opening three league games to win three of their next four. They drew at Crusaders and Glenavon, beat Ballymena but then hit another slump. More recently they produced impressive performances at Linfield and Coleraine, with the opposition goalkeeper man of the match each time, but still lost both. A frustrating draw at home to Ards was followed by a 3-0 loss against Glenavon last Saturday. The Boxing Day win in Fermanagh was therefore crucial, and Head Coach Rodney McAree will hope to end the year on a winning note against the Glens.
Gary Haveron: “Boxing Day was massive for us after recent results. It was great for the players, staff and supporters at the club and I was really pleased for everyone. The important thing now is to take the feelgood factor, turn it into confidence within the squad and most importantly to back it up in Dungannon on Saturday and in our next series of matches to really build up momentum and points. I know the squad is good enough to do it so we’ll go to Dungannon with that attitude.
Dylan Davidson has a one game suspension after his sending off against Linfield. They were two silly bookings but I’m not going to be too hard on Dylan over it as I know he’ll learn from it. But he’s only 18 and was playing in a very tense, emotional match in front of the biggest crowd of his career. He’s really bought into life here and he’ll have those photos of his celebration for life.
Jonny Addis is available for Saturday which is great as it gives me good options in a couple of areas. Generally apart from John McGuigan (who’s nearly there and will be figuring in January) we have a clean bill of health now. Willie and Elliott were given Thursday night off from full training as precautions but they’ll both be okay. Willie took a knock on Tuesday but he’s okay. Though I’m going to be careful and patient with Willie’s recovery. This is the first time I’ve had Willie available since I came here so I want to get the best out of him now he’s here. He and John will both be big players for us for the rest of the season.
Finally thanks to the support for turning out in such big numbers and getting so strongly behind us on Boxing Day. It really drove the players on. We’re determined to repay that between now and May.”
