Supporters are asked to note that Search Stewards will be in place at the ground on Saturday and consequently they may wish to arrive slightly earlier than normal to ensure they gain access prior to kick off. Fireworks, smoke canisters, flares, laser pens or any similar items are of course not permitted in the ground.

Tomorrow, Mourneview Park hosts the first Mid-Ulster derby of the season as Portadown visit for the 10th round of games in the Danske Bank Premiership.

Eoin Bradley scored a double the last time the teams met. Photo by Alan Weir.

Although the Ports currently prop up the table and have lost six of the eight league games they’ve played so far, this is a real derby match and, by all accounts, Pat McGibbon’s side dominated the first half of last weekend’s game with Cliftonville. Failure to make that dominance count on the score-line eventually led to a 3-0 defeat at Shamrock Park for the Mid-Ulster Reds.

Glenavon let a two goal lead slip by conceding late goals in last Saturday’s game with Coleraine so Gary Hamilton will be wanting to avoid any slip-ups against the local rivals tomorrow. “Regardless of league positions or form, anyone can win a derby game on the day. If we don’t match them in terms of work rate and commitment they still have players who can beat you. In the games against Ballymena and Cliftonville they had chances to win but failed to score when they were on top.

“We need to start the way we did against Coleraine and we’ll be looking to get the result that will get us back to winning ways tomorrow. We’ve had three tough away games on the trot and we’ve not lost any of them. Obviously we’re disappointed not to have won them after being in the lead but I feel we’ve been getting back to our best.”

Kris Lindsay starts a two-game ban following his red card against Dungannon Swifts and Andy Kilmartin is suspended having clocked up five cautions. Gary himself is available pending his appeal against his dismissal in the Dungannon game.

David Elebert will be out for up to 3 weeks with a calf strain, Simon Kelly is again a doubt with a hamstring problem but Joel Cooper will hopefully be back again after missing last week’s game with a knock.

“With injuries and suspensions, we’ve only been able to field the same back four about twice this season which is not ideal. We carry plenty of threat up front but it would give us a better platform if we could get a settled back four,” Gary concluded.

Match Programme

Another packed edition of the Glenavon matchday programme will be on sale price £2.

Match Officials

Our Sponsors

Our sponsors this week are all locally-based businesses and Glenavon FC is very grateful for their support and would encourage you to reciprocate if possible.