Preview: Reds v Blues (Tue)

Following hard on the heels of Friday night’s Season opener which saw ten man Glenavon earn a point in a battling 1-1 draw at Mourneview with Glentoran, Tuesday’s visit to Solitude (kick-off 7:45pm) will be a poignant affair with Cliftonville at home for the first time since the sad passing of their former player and manager Tommy Breslin.

Cliftonville, now managed by former Institute boss Paddy McLaughlin, also drew 1-1 on the opening weekend, a late Joe Gormley goal earning them a point at the Coleraine Showgrounds.

Danske Bank Premiership, Solitude, Belfast 26/1/2019. Cliftonville’s Ross Lavery and Aaron Harmon of Glenavon
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Philip Magowan

Glenavon’s goal scorer on Friday night, Sammy Clingan, is usually not risked on the synthetic surfaces and Rhys Marshall, who was sent off for two yellow cards against Glentoran, is of course automatically suspended for this game. Eoin Wearen (hamstring), Daniel Larmour (ankle) and Caolan Marron (knee) all missed Friday night’s opening game with injuries sustained in pre-season games but, one, way or another, Tuesday’s match will certainly see a re-shuffled line-up for Gary Hamilton. “We managed the game well after going down to ten men and what pleased me the most on Friday was the fitness levels. I thought they were exceptional considering it was the first match of the season; to play for such a long time with ten men and still be going strong at the end, was pleasing and we played well also, considering the situation.”