Tuesday 16th March 2021, Kick Off 7.45pm
Tomorrow night we travel to Lurgan play Glenavon for the first of two meetings in five days in the Danske Bank Premiership. This one is a rearranged match from 23rd January.
Incredibly 6 of our last 7 league games at Mourneview have ended in draws, including the past 5 in succession. Last season's season opener ended up 1-1 with John Herron putting Darren Murray through for a 4th minute opener, only for Sammy Clingan to equalize 10 minutes later and we were unable to take advantage of the red card for our January signing Rhys Marshall before half time. Our second visit was an eventual 2-2 draw last February with Navid Nasseri's second strike of the game on the hour mark having restored our lead after a Danny Purkiss header had put Glenavon level in the first half. Sadly, a combination of another ex-Glens player (Aaron Harmon, who's hopeful ball from distance somehow crept into the far corner) and Nasseri failing to take the chance for his hattrick from a late penalty denied victory on that occasion.
Our last league win came in February 2016 - 2 goals for Curtis Allen either side of a Kevin Braniff equaliser before Johnny Smith added a third in injury time, Curtis also hit the bar with the last kick of the game from the penalty spot to miss out on a hattrick. It was a surprise win at the time as we were struggling for form under Alan Kernaghan, having lost the previous 4 league games prior and been beaten 4-1 at the Oval in the Irish Cup by 4th placed Glenavon 9 days earlier. Glenavon's last win was 4-0 in April 2015.
Glenavon's form since the start of 2021 has largely reflected their current midtable position of 8th. In the 12 games played this year they have won 5, drawn 3 and lost 4. They hold an unwanted record of having more red cards in their fixtures than any other side this year (8) and 4 opposition players have also taken an early bath in the course of the 22 games played.
Injuries have also been an issue, with veteran Centre Back Colin Coates missing Saturday's 2-1 defeat against Cliftonville at Solitude after being substituted with a concussion in the win over Portadown 4 days prior. Former Glentoran defender Calum Birney is a long-term absentee along with ex Carrick man Andrew Doyle, who has a back injury. Lee McNulty was due to return from a one-match ban at Solitude but has recently picked up a knee injury. Young Full Back Jack O'Mahony has a hamstring problem but former Northern Ireland midfielder Michael O’Connor should return after being rested at the weekend and James Singleton returned to the side at the weekend following his own spell out with concussion.
Mick McDermott: “Saturday at Warrenpoint was the hard game we always knew it would be. Conditions were relatively good, and I don’t think they troubled us that much, apart from a couple of shots from a distance that Dayle handled comfortably. It was great to see Robbie back and fresh and scoring after his short break with a dead leg.
Now we’re playing Glenavon twice in a row before going straight back to Warrenpoint. No one likes double headers, but our team know what needs to be done in the current Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday format so we’re ready for this one. We have a full-strength team available so I’m looking forward to it.”
Glenavon will be live streaming this match HERE through our friends at 247.tv
