Manager’s programme notes
Posted : 22nd January 2022
Today we will face another hugely important and difficult challenge, as we aim to maintain our position at the top of the league table.
Glenavon are a good team who are difficult to beat, as we discovered in our scoreless draw at Mourneview in September. They should be higher in the table than what will be for them a disappointing eighth position but they are capable of putting a run of good results together to improve that position.
Gary Hamilton and Paul McAreavey’s squad include several players who know all about playing at Windsor Park and while we can welcome back Andy Waterworth, Mark Stafford, Mark Haughey, Sean Ward, Danny Wallace and Robert Garrett, they will all know how focused we will be in trying to secure the vital three points on offer today.
It’s very tight at the top of the league table and it’s so important that we can build up momentum and string together a series of consistent results and performances.
Ahead of the closing of the transfer window at the month end, we are continuing to monitor developments on a daily basis, to see if there are any players becoming available who would fit into our structure and our budget and who would improve the squad. I’ve said regularly that we will not be rushed into panic signings but we are constantly reviewing the situation, as we get closer to the end of the month.
Injuries continue to put a burden on player availability within the squad. Chris Shields will be missing today, due to the injury he sustained at Dungannon recently and Jordan Stewart will also be unavailable because of the injury he suffered in the Shield final. Thankfully, his injury doesn’t look as serious as first feared but he’s still going to be unavailable for a couple more weeks at least. Cameron Palmer is unlikely to be available again today but we are hopeful that we will soon see Conor Pepper back and available for selection again in the near future. Ross Larkin will remain unavailable and he continues to be in the thoughts and prayers of everyone at the club.
We were delighted with last week’s hard fought but deserved 1-0 home win against Ballymena United. They made things difficult for us, as they did in the pre-Christmas game which we also won 1-0. We showed character and resilience to see out the win and our determination to hold on to the clean sheet and the victory was epitomised by the goal line blocks by Niall Quinn and Kirk Millar deep into injury time.
Congratulations to Chris Shields who was named NIFWA player of the month for December, an award he also won in September.
We will need our supporters to get right behind us today, to help us try and secure a win that could be really important, come the end of the season. Our supporters have shown real patience and understanding in recent weeks and I want to assure everyone we are all working hard to bring you the rewards you expect and deserve. While our focus and concentration has been on today’s huge game, I’m aware that several big away games over the coming weeks will place big demands on the resources of our supporters and we really appreciate the efforts of everyone in doing all in their power to follow and support the team.