Saturday 30th December
Kick Off 3.00pm
Glentoran supporters will be demanding a big improvement when third placed Cliftonville visit the Bet McLean Oval for our third meeting this season and game 24 in the Sports Direct Premiership.
Cliftonville have enjoyed an excellent run of form since exiting the League Cup at Dungannon at the start of November; seven wins and one draw - the recent 2-2 with Glentoran at Solitude - from their last eight games have placed Jim Magilton’s side firmly in the title race, just four points behind leaders Linfield and three away from Champions Larne. More tellingly they are thirteen points ahead of us despite dropping five points against us in our previous two meetings.
The Reds have visited the Oval on three occasions to date in 2023 and been defeated on each one: a 3-0 league defeat in April was followed by a 2-0 loss the following month in the final of the European Playoffs and in this season’s league meeting back in September, a piece of individual class from substitute Niall McGinn was the difference in a close encounter where the Glens emerged as 1-0 winners.
Norwich loanee Sean Stewart has recently returned from injury and will be hoping for a recall on the left flank, possibly in place of Stephen Mallon. Magilton has a strong squad to choose from at present, with the likes of Joe Gormley, Chris Curran and Sam Ashford having to make do with places on the substitutes bench in recent weeks.
Warren Feeney: “I was very disappointed with our performance and the result on Boxing Day. Our supporters were there in great numbers and got well behind us and I thank them for that. But frankly we didn’t turn up and after a decent run of form we let ourselves down and didn’t run hard enough to get anything out of the game. But I won’t get down about it as we have another big one and a good chance to bounce back on Saturday.
"Saturday is very early to be playing teams for the third time in the league, but we’ve played Linfield twice this month and today it’s the same with Cliftonville. I’ve said before the Reds are a very good, very adaptable team but we’ve beaten them and drawn with them this season in two very well contested games. We are still too far behind them in third place and we need to get that gap closed. Today is a good time to start. We can go into the game with confidence but we know it’s likely to be another hard fought one.
"As this is the last match of 2023, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone in the Glentoran Family a very Happy New Year. I can guarantee each and every one of you that our focus on reaching the required standards of a Glentoran squad will continue and that no effort will be spared in our efforts to bring silverware and European qualification to the club by the end of the season."
Tickets for this game can be purchased HERE.
IMPORTANT SUPPORTER NOTICES
- The Board of Directors remind supporters that under no circumstance is anyone permitted to bring flares, fireworks or any other sort of pyrotechnic equipment into the Bet McLean Oval at any time. These are highly dangerous to other supporters and potentially to players. Any breach of this rule will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Persons breaking this rule will receive a lifetime ban from the Bet McLean Oval and will be reported to the police.
- We strongly request that supporters respect the rights of the local residents by parking well away from housefronts in the immediate locality. There is plenty of available parking at the Holywood Arches Heath Centre.
