Tuesday 8th November 2022
Kick Off 7.45pm
Tomorrow evening we are back in County Armagh for our first meeting of the season with Glenavon.
Defender Mark Haughey has been a long-term absentee, but Danny Wallace is in line to return after serving a one match suspension against Cliftonville.
Gary Hamilton may have to do without young midfielder Jack Malone, however, after he limped off in the first half at Solitude. If that is the case, one of the experienced duo of Matthew Snoddy or Robert Garrett are likely to replace him. Having made such an impact as a substitute at the weekend, young Striker Josh Doyle could be in line to start, with some doubt over the availability of top scorer Matthew Fitzpatrick after he was substituted in the second half.
So far this season, Glenavon fans have been treated to a deluge of goals; with 28 scored and 26 conceded in their thirteen games played so far, they are the league’s 2nd highest scorers (behind Crusaders) but only bottom sides Dungannon and Portadown have conceded more. After a difficult start to the season, including a 5-1 home defeat to newly promoted Newry, a shock League Cup exit at home to Championship leaders Loughgall and a string of red cards, Gary Hamilton’s side have settled into a better run of form - picking up 10 points from their last six games and winning their last 3 home games. On Saturday, they fought back from 2-0 down (with only 7 minutes remaining) to snatch a 2-2 draw at Solitude against Cliftonville, thanks to a Josh Doyle strike and an own goal by former Glentoran defender Johnny Addis.
Glentoran won both league fixtures at Mourneview Park last season, goals from Luke McCullough and Jay Donnelly securing a 2-1 win in October 2021 and then a Conor McMenamin hat trick and another Jay Donnelly goal secured a late comeback 4-2 scoreline at the end of February 22; Glenavon having led 2-1 until the 78th minute after goals by Matthew Snoddy and winger Peter Campbell. The last Mourneview win for Hamilton’s men was in March 2021, on that occasion it was Glentoran who were on the wrong end of a comeback, with goals from Robert Garrett and Matthew Fitzpatrick securing a 2-1 win after we had led, thanks to a first half Rory Donnelly goal, until the 70th minute.
