Soccer

Danske Bank Premiership: Glenavon to burst Ards' bubble

Glenavon manager Gary Hamilton will be seeking a response from his side following their 4-0 defeat to Linfield
Glenavon manager Gary Hamilton will be seeking a response from his side following their 4-0 defeat to Linfield Glenavon manager Gary Hamilton will be seeking a response from his side following their 4-0 defeat to Linfield

Coleraine v Glentoran


COLERAINE welcome Glentoran to the Showgrounds hoping they can kick-start their campaign with a first win. They are currently languishing in third-last place and have only two points. Bar the 4-0 defeat to Dungannon Swifts, they have, however, had two creditable results, with 1-1 draws against Linfield and Crusaders.

In the latter game, they were unlucky to fall behind inside two minutes through a Stephen Douglas own-goal and fought back well to equalise through a David Ogilby free-kick. Meanwhile, against Linfield, Oran Kearney’s men only lost out to a controversial Aaron Burns equaliser with two minutes remaining.

The Glens have lost twice and won twice and, just like Friday night’s opponents, are struggling for goals at present - having only bagged two so far in their 1-0 wins against Dungannon on the opening day and Portadown last time out. They are still awaiting international clearance for new signing Moldovan Alex Leu and he will not be available for the game.

The suspicion is both these teams have enough firepower in their ranks to start hitting the net with more regularity. Curtis Allen has not really hit his stride for the Belfast side, while the Bannsiders will be looking for another good season from James McLaughlin.

Prediction: Coleraine


Odds: H: 7/5 D: 9/4 A: 13/8

Glenavon v Ards


GLENAVON had started the new season well, with wins against Carrick Rangers and Cliftonville sandwiching a draw against Ballymena United. Last Saturday’s 4-0 hammering at Linfield was, therefore, both surprising and, no doubt, sobering for the Lurgan side.

Player-manager Gary Hamilton is sure to want a fiery response from his players on their own patch and Ards may feel the full force of that. The newly-promoted side currently top the table and are seeking a fourth win on the bounce after seeing off Ballymena United, Portadown and Dungannon Swifts.

No disrespect to those teams - but this is their first big test and Niall Currie’s team will do well to get anything from the game.

Prediction: Glenavon


Odds: H: 4/5 D: 13/5 A: 11/4

Carrick Rangers v Ballymena United


THESE two teams are already struggling after four games, with the Sky Blues sitting eighth in the table and Carrick ninth. Ballymena, under new boss David Jeffrey, will be hoping for a better return than last term, when they finished a mediocre eighth. The early signs are not good, however, with one of their two losses being a 6-0 trouncing by Crusaders.

Carrick have been no less porous, having conceded 11 goals in their four outings to date. Both sides will see this as an ideal opportunity to move up the table, but a draw may be the most likely result.

Prediction: Draw


Odds: H: 11/8 D: 12/5 A: 13/8