oval revenge mission

There can be no better way for Glenavon to bounce back after their defeat last week than gain quick revenge over Glentoran at The Oval on Saturday.
Gary Hamilton.Gary Hamilton.
Gary Hamilton.

The Glens recently completed a league and cup double over the Lurgan Blues but manager Gary Hamilton is sending his team to Belfast firmly focused on getting a result.

“We want to win it,” says Gary. “We want to be positive and go into the game in the right frame of mind. We might not win it, but that is our target. We are good enough and if we play the way we have been away from home then we have a chance.

Glentoran beat us twice in the space of a few days but the League Cup defeat was influenced by the sending off. We’ll go down there and try our best and hopefully that will be good enough on the day.”

Glenavon’s cause has not been helped with Kevin Braniff out suspended and at the time of going to press Hamilton himself did not know if he would be able to play.

The club has appealed his red card given by referee Mervyn Smyth last week when he was sent from the dugout.

Although Hamilton was named as a substitute, he was red carded in his role as manager. If the appeal is unsuccessful then that leaves the manager with a lot to ponder on how they approach the game regarding tactics and who they bring onto the bench.

It might well mean Eoin Bradley carrying out a sole striker role with five in the midfield. With Darren Forsyth also ruled out of contention through injury the striking options are limited.

Andy Hoey has been scoring goals for the Reserves and could well get a place on the bench.