Soccer

Crues not getting carried away with unbeaten start insists Stewart

Sports Direct Premiership: Crusaders v Glenavon (Saturday, 3pm)

PACEMAKER PRESS BELFAST 09-08-24
Sports Direct Premiership 24/25 - MD 1
Glentoran v Crusaders
Jordan Stewart of Crusaders during this evening’s game at Bet McLean Oval, Belfast.
Photo - Andrew McCarroll/ Pacemaker Press
Crusaders have three wins and a draw from the opening four league matches but captain Jordan Stewart says the there is still a long way to go in the Sports Direct Premiership campaign (Andrew McCarroll)

Nobody is getting carried away with Crusaders’ unbeaten start to the Sports Direct Premiership, says Jordan Stewart.

After claiming three wins and a draw from their opening for games, Glenavon are next up for the in-form Crues at Seaview today (3pm).

Stewart joined the North Belfast club in the summer after seven years at Linfield – including a loan spell at Glenavon – and opened his account with a goal against Knockbreda in the Co Antrim Shield.

However, he is keeping his feet firmly on the ground despite the excellent start to the season.

“At Crusaders, we are just going to do what we’re going to do, and that’s working hard and seeing where results take us”, said the gifted 29-year-old.

“It’s a 38-game season not a four game season and we’ve just got to focus on ourselves.

“There is no great expectancy for us to win the league so if it were to happen it would be the stuff of dreams.

“But with 34 games left we are not dreaming about anything but today’s game.

“If we are in and around it come the end of the season, that would be ideal but we’re not naive either.”

Glenavon have been hampered by injuries, contributing to a points tally of just four points from six games.

Ruled out today are Niall Quinn, Rhys Marshall, Mark Hughey, Jamie Doran, Harry Lynch, Isaace Baird and Calum Birney, but Keith Ward and Jack Malone are expected to be fit to play.

“We’ve had a very disorganised fortnight with injuries”, acknowledged Glenavon manager Stephen McDonnell.

“But we have a lot to be optimistic about, three points changes the complexion of where we are currently and we are going for the win today.

“We’ll take heart from the Coleraine game, which showed we can beat teams of good quality and we’ll go there today to get maximum points.”