GLENAVON coach Kris Lindsay is hoping that today isn’t the day that Cliftonville’s strikeforce clicks into gear as the Reds go in search of back-to-back league wins for this first time this season.
The Solitude side hit six goals on the opening day against Ards but they travel to Mourneview Park having found the net just four times in the their five games since, but Lindsay is aware that it’s a case of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ when it comes to the side rediscovering their scoring touch.
“It’s safe to say that Cliftonville have had a disappointing start to the season,” he said of Barry Gray’s team.
“They haven’t hit the heights that they were expecting to, although they did take in a fair few players in the summer and it’s maybe taking a little bit of time for them to gel.
“Their firepower going forward is frightening though, you have (Joe) Gormley, Jay Donnelly, Rory Donnelly. Daniel Hughes isn’t even getting a game at the minute.
“They have all sorts of talent going forward and they’re going to click sooner or later, let’s just hope it’s not against us.”
Scoring goals hasn’t been an issue for Gary Hamilton’s side though and they have found the nets an incredible 21 times in their six games to date.
Last week’s 2-0 win over Carrick Rangers was their first clean sheet of the season though and the Irish FA’s recruitment and retention officer said that it was vital to get that first shut-out.
“We have been scoring plenty and have been conceding a few as well, but that’s just the nature of how we play,” Lindsay continued.
“We like to get forward and that is going to leave us a bit exposed at the back. Still, that clean sheet can only breed confidence in the defenders.
“To be honest we have been defending well in the games if you take Coleraine (a 4-2 loss) out of it.
“In general we have been solid although we have given a few soft penalties away.
“If we can keep scoring goals the way that we are and limit the opposition’s chances, we’ll be happy.”
Along with Cliftonville and Coleraine, Glenavon are hoping to prove that they are the strongest challengers to the current top two, Crusaders and Linfield.
Lindsay said that in order to do that, these are the games that they must be winning – especially as it’s on their own patch.
“We have a young squad this year and we have been drumming into them that you need to win your home games in this league.
“The teams like Cliftonville and Coleraine, along with the other top six sides, you need to be beating them at home. That’s the bottom line.
“We think we’re capable of beating Cliftonville, we think we’re capable of beating any team at home.
“We’ve had a decent start to the season and we want to stay up around the top of the league.”
Irish Stats
Compiled by Padraig Kelly
Ballymena United v Glentoran
BALLYMENA are aiming to continue their recovery after back-to-back league wins, the second of those a 3-1 win away to Warrenpoint Town despite conceding after just 31 seconds. Glentoran suffered their first league defeat of the season against Linfield last week. New signing Eoghan McCawl could make his debut.
Prediction: Draw
Odds: H: 13/8 D: 12/5 A: 11/8
Coleraine v Carrick Rangers
COLERAINE are the league's form side and look good to make it seven wins from seven at the Showgrounds. Carrick have lost their last two games, failing to score a goal in the process and David McAlinden's men are unlikely to end the Bannsiders' winning run.
Prediction: Coleraine
Odds: H: 2/7 D: 18/5 A: 8/1
Crusaders v Ards
CRUSADERS delivered a significant early blow in the Gibson Cup race with a 2-1 win over Linfield on Tuesday, Jordan Forsythe and Paul Heatley with their goals. Colin Nixon criticised his side's defence following last week's loss to Coleraine, but Ards could be under the cosh here again.
Prediction: Crusaders
Odds: H: 1/7 D: 11/2 A: 12/1
Dungannon Swifts v Warrenpoint Town
DUNGANNON have won two of their last three games and were unlucky not to take anything from last week's game with Cliftonville having created a raft of chances in the final stages. Warrenpoint still have only one win to their name and only Ballinamallard have conceded more goals.
Odds: H: 4/5 D: 13/5 A: 13/5
Glenavon v Cliftonville
IF Glenavon are to hang onto the coattails of the pace-setters then these are the sort of games that they must win. Gary Hamilton's men have been a joy to watch this year and they kept their first clean sheet of the season against Carrick last week. Cliftonville are chasing their first back-to-back league wins of the season.
Prediction: Glenavon
Odds: H: 11/10 D: 12/5 A: 2/1
Linfield v Ballinamallard
LINFIELD'S 2-1 loss to Crusaders midweek was not only their first defeat of the league season, but also the first (and second) time they had conceded a goal. Ballinamallard, by contrast, are conceding three a game on average, and it would be a surprise if they didn't concede that many again today.
Prediction: Linfield
Odds: H: 1/9 D: 6/1 A: 16/1
