James Singleton has called on Glentoran to find greater consistency in their league form as they prepare to face Larne in Friday night’s Irish Premiership clash at Inver Park (kick-off 7.45pm).

The 31-year-old made his 150th appearance for the Club in Tuesday night’s 3-1 Co Antrim Senior Shield victory over Linfield at the BetMcLean Oval.

It has been a stop-start beginning to the league campaign for the Glens, with two wins and two defeats from their opening four fixtures, and Singleton believes they must now build on their midweek Big Two victory.

“We can’t allow this run of form to continue,” he said. “We need to become more consistent and start putting points on the board regularly.

“It’s very frustrating to lose a game after picking up three points in the one before. When you win, you have to build on it and carry that momentum into the next match.

“Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to do that so far. It has to improve quickly because otherwise you can find yourself with a mountain to climb.

“I don’t think we have fully found our rhythm yet. It is only the opening month of the season, but we have to draw a line under that now.

“After Christmas last season, we put together a great run when we were winning regularly and dropping very few points. We know that level is within us and we have to find it again.

“There is very little margin for error in this league. No trophies are handed out at this stage of the season, but you don’t want to leave yourself trailing behind.

“We know what we have to do, but there are also positives to take from the games we have played. Whenever we have lost, we have responded by winning the next game, which is encouraging.

“We did that again against Linfield in the Co Antrim Senior Shield on Tuesday night. Now it is up to us to break that win-loss cycle when we go to Larne on Friday.”

Glentoran were unable to defeat the Invermen last season, losing twice and drawing twice in the Premiership before suffering penalty shootout heartache against them in the Irish Cup.

Singleton admits those results remain a source of frustration for the squad and says they are determined to make amends this season.

“Those games against Larne last season were very frustrating for us in more ways than one,” he said.

“We felt we were on the wrong side of a few decisions, including red cards and penalties, which ultimately cost us.

“But it obviously didn’t all come down to that. We should have performed better in some of those games and come away with better results.

“Picking up a couple of wins could have had a major impact on the title race, and that is where a lot of the frustration comes from.

“We know we could have made a difference by reversing some of those results, and we have to learn from that this season.

“Games against your rivals are hugely important. You have to try to gain an advantage whenever the opportunity presents itself.

“We know Friday will be a difficult game, particularly at Inver Park, but we have to believe in our ability to go there and get a result.

“We can make a real statement of intent if we produce the performance we know we are capable of and come away with a positive result. That is what we will be determined to do.”

Glentoran have also been boosted by Conor McMenamin’s deadline-day return to the BetMcLean Oval following a short spell with Coleraine.

Singleton is delighted to be reunited with his former teammate but stressed that the responsibility for delivering results belongs to the entire squad.

“We all know the quality Conor has and what he has produced for this Club in the past,” he said.

“The opportunity to bring him back came out of the blue, so everyone was delighted when the move was completed. It has given the players and supporters a real lift.

“But it isn’t about one player and we can’t place all the responsibility on Conor. As a team, we know we have to produce the performances we are capable of and put together a consistent run of results.

“That responsibility belongs to all of us. We have plenty of quality throughout the squad, but we have to show it consistently because we cannot afford to keep dropping points.”