Glentoran FC

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Fri, 29/04/2016 - 21:06

Glentoran welcome newly crowned Danske Bank Premiership champions Crusaders to the Oval on Saturday.

The match will bring a close to the domestic campaign, but the season is far from over for the Glens who are still in contention for a spot in Europe via the play-offs.

Although the league has already been wrapped up for Crusaders, tomorrow’s encounter could help Alan Kernaghan’s men rediscover the form that they'd shown before the Linfield defeat.

Before the derby day woe, the East Belfast side were five games unbeaten, but have failed to pick up a point since.   The latest setback came last Saturday when a single Kevin Braniff goal was enough to give travelling Glenavon three points to assure the Lurgan Blues of a third-place finish in the league.

Glentoran will be desperate to join Gary Hamilton’s side in Europe, but a semi-final encounter with Coleraine stands in the way on Friday May 6th.

The Bannsiders are set to host the tie as they sit higher in the league.  Although the Glens could mathematically leapfrog Oran Kearney’s side into fifth place with a win, their goal difference is worse off and they will need to depend on a comprehensive score-line in Cliftonville’s favour. 

Reigning champions Crusaders have successfully retained their title and make the short trip to the Oval with a strong record against the Glens. Boss Stephen Baxter has taken seven points from the three previous meetings this season.  Glentoran will also need to hold their discipline in tomorrow’s fixture, having seen red four times against Crusaders this campaign alone.

Despite Irish Cup semi-final success against Baxter’s team last year and the Charity Shield victory at the start of this season, the East Belfast side will be fighting to lift their league hoodoo, as they have not tasted victory over Crusaders since April 2014 – a run stretching over seven games. In this season's previous game at the Oval, back in August 2015, the Glens held the Champions to a 2-2 draw despite losing keeper, Elliott Morris in the opening minutes. Jordan Stewart was the Glentoran hero that evening with both goals.

Nathan Webb.