Players can bounce back against Swifts - Walker

United take on Dungannon Swifts – their perennial nemesis in recent seasons – at the Showgrounds, hoping to put an extraordinarily bad run of results against the Tyrone side firmly behind them.

In United's last 11 meetings with Dixie Robinson's men, they have taken a paltry one point from a possible 33 and you have to go back to February 2007 to find a last Ballymena win against Dungannon.

"We felt we were masters of our own downfall at Coleraine and we felt we missed an opportunity," said Roy.

"We'll dust ourselves down and look at it this week and see where we can improve.

"I would think there will be a couple of changes – I will assess it his week and see what we've got.

"We have a couple coming back who we can bring into the squad and Rory Carson will be available again after suspension – we missed his drive and ball-carrying abilities at Coleraine.

Walker will also check on the wellbeing of utlity player Mark Surgenor, who pulled up in the warm-up before Saturday's game complaining of chest pains. He took his place on the bench as scheduled but played no part in the game.

"Surgy had a problem before the game and when we asked him on the bench how did he feel, he didn't give us a conclusive answer so we were afraid to take any chances. We will have to get it looked at," the manager added.

* Saturday's match will be sponsored Gordon FW McIlrath & Co Solicitors, Ballymoney Road, while the match ball sponsors are Norman and Ian Armstrong, The Kiosk Newsagents, Ballymena Railway Station.

* United have been drawn at home to Championship Ards in the third round of the Co-operative Insurance Cup on October 23.

* United striker James McLaughlin, who has fallen out of favour in recent weeks, is believed to be interesting Championship Two side Portstewart, who are understood to be interested in taking the frontman on loan.

* United Reserves are at home to Cliftonville Olympic tonight (Tuesday, 7.45pm).