Top two meetat Drumahoe

The Waterside men who have slowly but surely moved into second spot in the Belfast Telegraph Championship One table, know a victory this weekend would see them join Whitey Anderson’s side at the top of the division.

“I think everyone knows that our best footballing performance of the season was up at their place, but we lost 3-0 in the Irn Bru League Cup that night, and because of that I know that we won’t have any fears facing them,” admitted Blair.

“We are on a good run of results ourselves and because we are now having a settled side with all the players working hard and tuning into what we are looking to achieve, things are going well at the minute, but we can’t afford to be complacent.

“Ballinamallard have a few experienced players and despite losing at Larne last week, they too have been doing well themselves this season and because of that I’m expecting an exciting game.”

Blair, who admits that striker Mark Kelly should be available for selection this weekend, believes one man who ’Stute will have to pay close attention to is his old team-mate Andy Crawford.

Crawford was the difference between the sides in that encounter in August and Blair will be warning his players to be on their toes when coming up against the former Linfield man.

“Andy is a quality player, he’s a goalscorer that is what his game is all about, he went to Linfield because he was a goalscorer and he has scored goals throughout his career, so we’ll have to keep a close eye on him.

“However Ballinamallard have a number of good players so we’ll have to be at our best if we want to give a positive result. I feel because they are top of the league they’ll come to our place looking to increase their lead at the top, while we’ll be looking to close that gap.

“I also feel that they won’t fancy coming to the Riverside because of that performance in August and I feel we are starting to get into a wee run of form.”

Last weekend bottom club Banbridge Town came to Drumahoe and frustrated the home side by sitting deep and defending, but Blair feels that won’t be the case this weekend.

“Banbridge looked like a team who came to Drumahoe for a point and they nearly got it, but thankfully we got the winner; I feel a lot of sides will do that against us especially at our place, but the players have shown on a number of occasions already that they are good enough to break that down.

“However in saying all that I don’t think Ballinamallard will do that on Saturday, it isn’t their style and because of that I think it will be a very open game, with both sides creating chances.”