Preview: Crusaders v Glenavon

Gary Hamilton is hoping for a ‘more open’ game at Seaview tomorrow (kick off 3pm). “Obviously we’ve got a difficult game tomorrow; Crusaders are on a good run at the moment, but you know no matter what run they’re on you’ll always get a difficult game with the quality that they have throughout their side.

“In our last two games (against Ballymena and Warrenpoint) we’ve lost and drawn but I was really pleased with the performances in both games and I think the boys deserved more than they got out of both games. I thought we deserved at least a draw against Ballymena and against Warrenpoint I thought we deserved to win – we basically had them camped in their half the whole time. I know Johnny had to pull off a save when they hit us on the counter but in reality, over the 90 minutes, we deserved to win the game. It’s not a case (in those two games) that we’ve played poorly or deserved to get beat so we have to take positives out of it and go into the game tomorrow and believe in ourselves, believe in the performances that we’ve put in this season and the results that we’ve got, and go there tomorrow and give it a right go.

“Hopefully tomorrow’s game will be a little bit different. Crusaders will certainly fancy their chances of beating us as well because they’re a top side and they’ll come out and attack us and go for it so hopefully the game will be a bit more open tomorrow and you won’t have nine men and a keeper camped behind the ball. It’s difficult for any team to break that down which was the case against Warrenpoint last week and even the week before at Ballymena. In the second half we had a situation where they just got everybody behind the ball and left big Adam Lecky on his own up front and it was difficult to break that down but in terms of the way the boys played and the effort in both games they’ve shown it’s been very good.

“We’re hoping if they show that same energy and attitude and the game is a bit more open, then we can exploit that but we know it’s going to be a hard game. Crusaders will always be there or thereabouts come the end of the season and I’ve gone on record a few weeks back saying that, if you finish above Crusaders, at the very least you’ve a very good chance of getting European football and even a very good chance of winning the league. That’s how highly I rate Crusaders.”

Ben Doherty celebrates after equalising for Glenavon against Crusaders in September 2108. Photo by Alan Weir

Supporter Information

Reminder: Tickets are available on Crusaders online Ticket Centre but there will be a cash gate available for those who cannot access e-tickets. Full details here.