Glentoran are in contention to secure back-to-back wins for the first time this season as they host Ballinamallard United tomorrow.
The East Belfast side came from behind twice to seal a 2-4 victory at Dungannon last week, collecting their first away win in the process.
David Armstrong and Andrew Mitchell put the Swifts ahead but the Glens levelled through Calum Birney and Steven Gordon. It was Birney who scored again to put the Glens in front for the first time in the game, before Curtis Allen’s late effort cemented the win.
On the back of the victory, manager Eddie Patterson is hopeful it can “be a start of things to come” if they can make it two on the bounce against a Ballinmallard United side struggling for consistency.
He said: “Hopefully that is now the start of things to come. It was a brilliant result, 4-2 away to Dungannon, it’s always a difficult place to come to and we played some great stuff.
“Ballinmallard is by no means an easy game. But if we get our attitude right and if we have same commitment, hunger and desire as we had today let’s see what happens.”
The boss also acknowledges that he must address some defensive issues in preparation for the game at the Oval tomorrow.
Patterson said: “We need to straighten out a few of the small problems we had at within the back four, which we represented them [Dungannon] a couple of chances particularly in the first ten minutes and we will eradicate those.”
The visitors have collected a single win so far in their Danske Bank Premiership campaign and have only managed a point in their last seven games. Whitey Anderson’s men will be looking to chalk up a second win of the season to push them away from relegation danger.
The Glens have a strong record against Mallard, going the entire campaign last season undefeated, boasting a thumping 4-0 win the last time the teams met at the Oval in March.
A win for the Glens tomorrow could see them rise above Glenavon in the table, who play Dungannon Swifts at Mourneview Park. However, a win for the Mallards would help them break away from bottom club Warrenpoint Town, who travel to Coleraine.
There are no fresh injury concerns going into the game tomorrow. Jay Magee is available after suspension, while Ciaran Caldwell remains ineligible.
Nathan Webb