Glentoran FC

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Thu, 18/01/2018 - 23:38

Carrick Rangers v Glentoran

Saturday 20th January 2018, 3pm.

Due to the vagaries of fixture planning, this Saturday we visit the Belfast Loughshore Hotel Arena for the second time in less than a month for our fourth meeting of the season with Carrick Rangers.

Our record in this fixture so far has been very poor for a team chasing a top six position. In August we drew 1-1 in the league at the Oval when an early opener from Ross Redman was equalised immediately after half time by former Glens U20 player Lee Chapman. In October Carrick knocked us out of the Bet McLean League Cup with a Mark Edgar free kick separating the teams. Last month we took a first half lead with an Eric Foley header but failed to hold out, drawing 1-1 following an injury time equaliser, again from ex-Glens U20 player Chapman.

Carrick host us on Saturday in eleventh place in the table on a run of fourteen league games without a win, including twelve defeats. Nothing short of a victory should be the aim this Saturday, particularly considering our recent poor record against the teams below us in the table.

Gary Haveron: “I was very disappointed at the result last week at Ballinamallard and expect us to make up for it at Carrick. Although Stephen O’Flynn’s miss made all the headlines, we also missed a lot of chances at 1-1 and definitely should have gone ahead before their penalty.

On the player front, Nathan Kerr was sick last week but he’s pulled through it and will be ready for Carrick. Calum may be ready too and I’ll give him every chance for Saturday. I really want Calum back in as we missed his presence at Ballinamallard. That’s no disrespect to Dan Kelly who played well last week at centre half after I had to move him from centre forward where he’d been doing well. I’m also hopeful Robbie McDaid can come back into contention this week. He’s in the same position as Calum.

John McGuigan lasted very well last week in his first start for three months. He worked very hard as usual but I won’t overplay him after his long layoff as he’s a big player for us. John did well at Ballinamallard but it’ll take him a while to get his full sharpness back. But it’s great to have him back in contention as his work rate and attitude really energises the team both on the pitch and in the dressing room.”