Three changes for Glenavon: out go Kris Lindsay, Conor Dillon and Kyle Buckley with Gareth McKeown, making his first appearance of the season, coming in along with Mark Patton and Mark Sykes.

Gavin Whyte is out with a calf strain but Captain Colin Coates returns from suspension for the Champions.

Good to see James Singleton at today’s game as he starts his recovery from a broken leg. Photo by Alan Weir.

Paul Heatley put the hosts ahead in the third minute, firing a low shot to the bottom corner after he got goal side of Rhys Marshall and picked up a diagonal ball just outside the Glenavon box.

In the end that early goal proved enough for the Champions but another man of the match performance by Glenavon goal keeper Jonny Tuffey ensured that Heatley and fellow striker Jordan Owens were unable to add to the score line.

Glenavon’s best chances came via the boot and head of Eoin Bradley, a well struck shot in the first half being parried by Sean O’Neill but the striker perhaps should have equalised in the 54th minute but he failed to get enough contact with a close range header from Andy Hall’s corner. Fifteen minutes later he ran clear onto a flick on from Kyle Neill’s throw in but fired narrowly wide.

Crusaders Sean O'Neill makes a save from Glenavon's Eoin Bradley during todays game at Seaview. Photo Alan Weir

Crusaders Sean O’Neill is beaten by Glenavon’s Eoin Bradley during todays game at Seaview but the ball rolled just wide of the post. Photo Alan Weir

Teams

Crusaders: O’Neill, Burns, Coates (c), Robinson, McClean, Heatley, Carvill (Forsythe 80), Clarke, Snoddy, O’Carroll (Mitchell 89), Owens. Subs: Stewart, Molloy, Mitchell, Forsythe, O’Flynn

Rhys Marshall and Paul Heatley in action. Photo by Alan Weir

Glenavon:.Tuffey, Mckeown (McGrory 85), Kelly, Marshall, Neill, Patton (Kearns 73), Kilmartin (O’Brien 90+1), Sykes, Hall, Braniff, Bradley. Subs: Cooper, McGrory, Buckley, O’Brien, Kearns.