Now we MUST win at home – hat-trick hero Gary

McCutcheon took his tally for the season to an amazing 12 goals from 11 matches in all competitions with a fabulous hat-trick against Glentoran but insists the biggest test is yet to come.

“Our next two games are at home (to Dungannon Swifts and Portadown) and they are massive, bigger than the Glentoran game for us.

“As long as we keep working as hard as we did at Glentoran the results at home are bound to turn, maybe with a wee bit of luck, and hopefully we can pick up wins at home.

“We can’t explain what happened to us against Coleraine. Tuesday night against Chimney Corner was good to get it out of the system quickly but against Glentoran we wanted to do it for ourselves especially – we were embarrassed by last week’s performance – but also the manager and the staff because we let everybody down last week.

“It’s always nice to get a hat-trick – they don’t come along too often.

“I’ve always seemed to get plenty of doubles in my career but hat-tricks have eluded me – I’ve had a few but not as many as I would have liked.

“We have a lot of good legs in the team which is good because I can’t get about the park the way that I used to.

“I feel as though I can score any time I go onto the pitch at the minute.

“I’m getting a few chances this year compared to last year when they weren’t coming along too freely. Fortunately for me they’re going in and the minute and while it’s happening I’m just enjoying it,” added McCutcheon.

Meanwhile, manager Roy Walker is prepared to take radical action in an attempt to get his side to recreate their stunning away form on their own pitch.

Ahead of this Saturday’s home game against Dungannon (3pm), United have picked up just one point from a possible 15 at the Showgrounds, compared with 12 out of 12 away from home and Walker is anxious to change the dynamic.

“If the club allows me I would turn the team out in the away kit this week. If the club would allow me, I would paint our dressing room a different colour. If the club would allow me, I would put things up on the walls because all those things change the atmosphere – at the minute there is nothing to distinguish our dressing room from any other dressing room

“When you go to Spain for your holidays, you don’t take your duffle coat. If we’re so good away from home, let’s create an away-from-home atmosphere,” added Walker, who also refused to discount suggestions including getting the players to meet away from Ballymena and travel to the match together!