Linfield v Glentoran (tomorrow, Windsor Park, 3pm)
MICK McDermott admits he still hasn’t totally settled back into his native city but a football man like him should feel right at home in the heat of today’s ‘big two’ battle at Windsor Park.
McDermott’s career took him from Cliftonville (he played the last game of the 1990/91 season against Ballymena) to a professional spell in the USA and then on to coaching stints at clubs in Abu Dhabi, Iran and Dubai. He was Iran’s assistant manager at the 2018 World Cup alongside former Alex Ferguson right-hand Carlos Quieroz and accompanied the one time Real Madrid boss when he left the Middle East to take over Columbia’s national team.
After 26 years on the road, McDermott returned to his native Belfast in February and was appointed manager of Glentoran. The well-travelled football man is aware that he faces the toughest test of his time at the Oval against David Healy’s Blues, the reigning league champions, this afternoon.
“We’re under no illusion, Linfield is a strong team and they have been for a long time,” said McDermott, who won three caps for Northern Ireland U18s before leaving for a soccer scholarship in the US that led to a career in Major League Soccer with Long Island Rough Riders.
“It’s a derby game on top of that so we know it’s going to be a great game hopefully for the fans.”
McDermott’s first three games yielded just two points but wins against Ballymena, Institute and, last Saturday, Larne have seen the Glens climb to third in the table.
“Larne were an excellent team,” said McDermott.
“They played some really good football in the second half but we did too so the result fell our way and it was nice to get it.”
The Glens had gone a goal down against big-spending Larne before goals from Paul O’Neill and Marcus Kane secured three valuable points against the early pacesetters.
“Everyone is available for Windsor,” said McDermott.
“We’re going there with our full strength squad and I’m sure they’ll be similar and they’ll have Stephen Lavery back after the international break. They’ll be strong but we’ll have a strong team on the park as well.”
Linfield manager David Healy has insisted that the Blues v the Glens remains the biggest game in the Irish League. However, given Glentoran’s run in recent years (the club’s last league title came in 2009) that sounds a little on the charitable side.
“There has been a steady decline over the years,” McDermott conceded.
“The club hasn’t finished in the top six in seven or eight years so we know that, that’s the reality and the fans know that and the new investor knew that when he got involved in the club.
“But we didn’t take on this project to keep knocking around six, seventh, eighth place. We’re here for the long haul to try and build the club back up to where it should be which would be great for the league because it would keep the ‘big two’ going strong.”
He added: “The league has improved a lot.
“This year the fans are going to see probably the strongest Irish League, the most competitive Irish League, in a long time. Teams are playing different brands of football so I think the league is evolving into something that is really interesting this season and beyond.”
McDermott’s experience certainly augurs well for the Glens but this afternoon’s trip to Windsor Park looks certain to be beyond his team. After their exploits in the Europa League, Linfield returned to bread and butter with a 1-0 win over Cliftonville last weekend and the Blues should have the firepower to keep their city rivals at bay today.
3pm unless stated
Institute FC v Larne (2pm)
ONE point out of six games, and that from a scoreless draw against Coleraine, has left ’Stute sitting second-from-bottom and in need of a result against stuttering Larne tomorrow.
The county Derry side were hammered 6-0 at home by Crusaders last Saturday and will need to have recovered quickly from that defeat to get to grips with a Larne outfit that began the season with two wins before taking one point out of their last three games.
Prediction: Larne
Ballymena United v Coleraine
TWO of the league’s form sides clash at the Ballymena Showgrounds. David Jeffrey’s Ballymena were 4-0 winners against Warrenpoint last weekend and won away at Carrick in their previous outing.
Meanwhile Coleraine are one of just two unbeaten sides (Crusaders are the other) and they have also won their last two – thumping in nine goals in the process.
Prediction: Coleraine
Crusaders v Glenavon
UNBEATEN league leaders Crusaders have dropped just two points this season while Glenavon’s solitary win came against basement outfit Warrenpoint Town last month. It’s hard to see the Lurgan Blues putting a dent in the Crues’ early charge.
Prediction: Crusaders
Dungannon Swifts v Cliftonville
LATE summer form hasn’t lasted into early Autumn for the Swifts who have shipped eight goals and scored none in their last two games. Both ended in defeat obviously and the Reds will travel with optimism despite losing 1-0 at home to Linfield last weekend.
Prediction: Cliftonville
Warrenpoint Town v Carrick Rangers
BOTTOM side Warrenpoint can leapfrog Institute and draw level with third-from-bottom Carrick with victory at Milltown this afternoon. However, that looks a tall order since the seasiders have lost five out of five so far, scoring just once and conceding 21 times.
Prediction: Carrick
