Robert Garrett adds vital Glenavon grit in a game short of grace

Garrett’s many admirable qualities have allowed the midfielder to represent his country plus clock up appearances for two of the IL’s most successful clubs in Linfield and Portadown before moving to Mourneview Park in 2019.

However, Garrett is at his most effective in the heat of battle, a player reactive more than proactive as he patrols the centre of the park nullifying the opposition.

And Saturday proved a perfect example of a game in which Garrett could establish his authority as both teams too often struggled to deliver moments of creativity beyond the fight for hard yards.

“We missed a penalty, had what we think was a stonewall penalty turned down and also scored what looked like a perfectly good goal disallowed - but we still need to do more in the final third,” said Garrett. “It’s frustrating, we knew it wouldn’t be easy against Dungannon.

“I was right beside the penalty decision and still can’t believe it wasn’t given but that’s football.

“At home to Dungannon it’s a game we should be going all-out to put them under pressure, we didn’t manage to do that really.

“I came off disappointed not having won a game in which I think we had chances, so it’s frustrating to finish with just a point.

“You want as many points on the board as quickly as possible.

“It’s a good club, I’m enjoying it here and it’s about trying to break into that top six or seven and do well in the cups.

“We’ve got a squad capable of doing that, with good players here but we need to start winning games.”

Garrett, so often the protective shield in front of the backline, was pleased with a first clean sheet of the campaign.

“In the Portadown game one ball cut us open on four occasions and we gave away cheap goals, away to Glentoran we had to dig deep down to nine men in a good battling performance,” he said. “We needed to shut up shop at the back after leaking goals.

“But you win games at the other end of the pitch and we need to sharpen up a bit in that final third.”

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