Conor Dillon comes in to the starting lineup to replace the injured David Elebert in the only change for Glenavon. One change also for the Glens with Steven Gordon replacing Fra McCaffrey who starts on the bench.

Although this scoreless draw has earned Glenavon the first home point in the league, fans, players and coaching staff were left scratching their heads at the end of the 90 minutes, wondering how on earth it wasn’t the first home win of the season. It must have felt almost like a defeat in the home dressing room after the game whilst in the visitors’ camp, it will feel like a win!

With the visitors first effort not coming until after 30 minutes on the clock there had only been one team in it and that was emphatically Glenavon. Rhys Marshall saw his header tipped onto the bar by Aaron Hogg from an 11th minute Andy Hall corner. The young fullback had already seen another effort cleared off the line in the 5th minute from a Kyle Neill corner.

Rhys Marshall goes for a header against Glens keeper Aaron Hogg. Photo by Alan Weir

Rhys Marshall goes for a header against Glens keeper Aaron Hogg. Photo by Alan Weir

Joel Cooper had a shot blocked and his follow up from the rebound was cleared off the line in the 12th minute.

Eoin Bradley went closest to opening the scoring in the first half when he was picked out in the box by a great ball from Andy Kilmartin. The striker was unlucky when he saw his header beat Hogg only to rebound off the far post.

Five minutes before the break a quick Glens counterattack released Conor McMenamin and his low shot was saved by Jonny Tuffey at the expense of a corner. Curtis Allen then had a back header loop over the bar after a sliced clearance by Kilmartin fell to him in the Glenavon box.

Steven Gordon (22) keeps a close eye on Joel Cooper. Photo by Alan Weir

Steven Gordon (22) keeps a close eye on Joel Cooper. Photo by Alan Weir

The visitors had a couple of half chances in the first 5 minutes of the second period but Cooper must be wondering how he didn’t score from inside the six yard box in the 53rd minute when he fired over from a low Hall cross that was missed by three defenders.

Tuffey made a great save in the 68th minute to claw away Marcus Kane’s header after he rose at the far post to direct David Scullion’s corner back towards the opposite post.

Four minutes from time it could all have gone wrong for Glenavon as a ball into the box was well controlled by Steven Gordon and he was able to get away a shot which smashed into the chest of Tuffey before being cleared by Kris Lindsay.

James Singleton, voted as Glenavon's Man of the Match, is relishing his new role in the central midfield. Photo by Alan Weir

James Singleton, voted as Glenavon’s Man of the Match, is relishing his new role in the central midfield. Photo by Alan Weir

Glenavon: Tuffey, Marshall, Dillon, Lindsay (c), Neill (Kelly 79), Hall, Kilmartin,  Singleton, Cooper (Patton 74), Braniff (Hamilton 75), Bradley. Subs not used: McGrory, O’Brien

Cautions: Neill 76, Marshall 88

Glentoran: Hogg, Holland, Birney, Addis, Kane, McAlorum (c), McMenamin, Scullion (McCaffrey 72), Nelson (Gibson 85), Gordon, Allen. Subs not used: Garrett, Magee, McCullough

Cautions: Holland 8, Gordon 11, Addis 39

Referee: Arnold Hunter