Tuesday 13th March 2023
Kick Off 7.45pm
Tomorrow evening we meet Ballymena for the second time in a month when we meet in the game abandoned in September last year.
Although buoyed by their recent progression to the Semi Finals of the Irish Cup - where they will face league leaders Larne for the chance to face Crusaders or Dungannon Swifts in the Final - Ballymena United are struggling to find a run of positive form in the league. Last Tuesday’s away defeat to bitter rivals Coleraine stretched their winless Premiership run to nine games; a run in which they have collected just three points from scoreless draws at home to Newry, Portadown and Crusaders.
With only two goals scored in those nine games, United manager David Jeffrey will be hoping that midfielder Joshua Kelly can get on the scoresheet for a third game in a row, and that top scorer David McDaid can end his nine-match run without a league goal. Defender Dougie Wilson has missed the last two games due to injury and experienced duo Ross Redman and Andy McGrory will be hoping to return to the side after being benched for recent games.
Rodney McAree: “It’s clear from the performance against Glenavon on Saturday that we need to find a much greater level of consistency between now and the end of the season. To go from Carrick to that in four days was completely unacceptable on every level, particularly in the first half when Glenavon could have gone further ahead. Supporters were entitled to expect a much more positive response to Glenavon’s opener but we didn’t get it and we let everyone down, especially ourselves.
Against Ballymena tomorrow night I expect us to attack from the start and play the game in their half. We started the abandoned match in September very well and could have been two or three up by the time it was abandoned. That level of directness and urgency is what we and the fans are entitled to expect and that’s how we’ll approach it.
Shay will hopefully be available tomorrow night and it was good to have Niall back in the squad at the weekend. Though Hrvoje still isn’t ready. We had a good win at the Showgrounds last month and that’s what we’re going for in this one.”
Tickets for Glentoran supporters remain available HERE. Tickets purchased for the original game remain valid for this one.
