Saturday 27th April
Kick Off 5.30pm
On Saturday evening we finish the totally forgettable 2023/24 Sports Direct Premiership season when Crusaders visit the Bet McLean Oval.
Since our 2-1 win at Seaview at the end of January, Crusaders have put together a strong run to secure 4th place in the Premiership; a last gasp home defeat to Linfield 2 weeks ago is their only loss in their last 10 games and they have recorded 7 wins along the way. The highlight of this run saw the Crues become the only side to defeat Champions Larne at Inver Park this season, with a late Stuart Nixon goal securing a surprise 1-0 victory.
This will be the fifth meeting in all competitions between the sides this season, with Glentoran winning 2-1 at Seaview thanks to a late goal from Bobby Burns and the other 2 league encounters ending in draws; 2-2 at the Oval early in the campaign - notable for a late Jordan Owens equaliser after Burns’ highly controversial sending off earlier in the second half - and a 1-1 at Seaview in October where Crusaders played most of the second half with 10 men (after Josh Robinson’s dismissal) but were only denied victory by a penalty save by Aaron McCarey. The Glens did triumph in the County Antrim Shield in September, though, via a penalty shootout after a goalless 90 minutes.
Experienced duo Billy Joe Burns and Jude Winchester missed Saturday’s 2-0 win at Coleraine after being substituted in the previous game against Cliftonville and ex-Glentoran and Linfield central defender Jimmy Callacher is a long-term injury absentee.
Declan Devine: “First off I want to say how proud and privileged I feel to have become permanent manager of this great football club. I developed strong feelings for Glentoran when I was here as a player and I am determined to get this club back to where it needs to be.
I’m not here for pats on the back and I am crystal clear on what we need to do over the close season. I fully understand the need to fully restructure the playing side of the club to make the whole training and playing setup much more professional and to make sure we are full time in the true sense of the word. That’s what our supporters deserve and it’s what I’ll make sure they get.
There’s an identity expected from Glentoran teams and that’s clearly been lost. I’ve already said we have some good players and a lot of good young players coming through here and we also need to make sure that over the summer we recruit the right number of the right sort of players who’ll help us quickly re-establish that identity.
I’ll be speaking more fully about my plans, expectations and the non-negotiables I demand from any squad once we get this season finished. I’ll be speaking to the website and GlensTV and I also want to sit down with supporters to hear their thoughts and to share my thoughts, plans and expectations with them. That process will start as soon as the season finishes and hopefully we’ve qualified for Europe through the playoffs.
I spoke to the media about how I felt about last week’s performance at Solitude and I don’t think it helps to go back over that with the playoffs coming up. It’s enough to say that over the next hopefully three games we need to rectify the lack of concentration and the lethargy that impacted us particularly v Coleraine and Cliftonville. We still have a massive end of the season ahead and I’ve emphasised its importance to everyone.
Today will be a strange one as Crusaders might be thinking ahead to the playoffs. But we’re playing at the Oval in front of our own supporters so I want a strong focus and intent from our players.
Unfortunately, Daire O’Connor broke his elbow at Solitude last week and will miss the rest of the season. That’s a huge loss for us and for Daire as he’d worked so hard to get fit after the injury that kept him out of the Linfield league game. He’ll be missed. Also David Fisher is still out injured but Jay Donnelly will be available after suspension.
More positively Aaron Wightman had his operation on Wednesday so he’s started his journey to recovery. I wish him all the best.
Tickets for this game can be purchased HERE.
IMPORTANT SUPPORTER NOTICES
- The Board of Directors remind supporters that under no circumstance is anyone permitted to bring flares, fireworks or any other sort of pyrotechnic equipment into the Bet McLean Oval at any time. These are highly dangerous to other supporters and potentially to players. Any breach of this rule will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Persons breaking this rule will receive a lifetime ban from the Bet McLean Oval and will be reported to the police.
- We strongly request that supporters respect the rights of the local residents by parking well away from housefronts in the immediate locality. There is plenty of available parking at the Holywood Arches Heath Centre.
Photographs by Johnny Caldwell
Match Sponsor: Linton Fencing and Sportsgrounds Ltd
Located just outside of Moira, County Down, Linton Fencing and Sportsgrounds Ltd is an experienced fencing contractor that serves across the UK and Ireland. No job is too big or small when it comes to fencing, netting, security and sporting solutions.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the many services we offer:
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Phone (028) 92 441180
Email info@lintonfencing.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FencingAndSportsgrounds
Linton Fencing & Sportsgrounds Ltd ,
4C Hallstown Road, Upper Ballinderry,
Lisburn, BT28 2NE