Gary Hamilton says a repeat performance of last season’s trips to Windsor Park would be “unacceptable”.
The last two trips to the National Stadium ended up in 7-0 and 8-1 defeats and that is something that Glenavon boss is determined to put right against Linfield on Saturday.
“We just want to go down there and give a good account of ourselves,” said Gary.
“Last year we went down there twice and we let the club down, we let ourselves down and we embarrassed ourselves. We don’t want a repeat of that.
“I’m not saying that we are going to be the first team to go down there and beat them but we will certainly go down there and give it our best and we will go with the aim of trying to get a result.
“We’re under no illusions that it’s going to be a tough game. They’re a top side and they’re full of confidence at the minute. They’re sitting top of the league having not dropped a point after five or six games.”
The Glenavon boss added that the players needed to have “pride in their ability and in themselves”, adding that he wanted to see improvement.
“We went down their twice last year and we were out of the game inside 15-20 minutes. Then you’re trying to see out the match and hoping for the best. We don’t want that this time,” he said.
“We want to stay in the game for as long as possible, create them problems and try and nick a goal and something to build on. I won’t accept it if we turn up and give in the way we did the last time.
“I believe and I’m confident that this group of players won’t do that but it’s up to them to prove that.”
Glenavon will go into the game without Peter Campbell while there are doubts over Calum Birney and Colin Coates.
“After the performance against Ballymena we wanted to keep the same sort of team. We won 2-0 and we were fine at the back and going forward we were really good, but unfortunately it isn’t to be,” the Glenavon manager continued.
“Calum’s got a bit of a groin strain and we will be waiting on an answer from Coatesy on the morning of the game. He was feeling a bit of tightness in training the other night.
“Peter took a knock on his ankle in training and went for an x-ray but thankfully it’s not broken, it’s just bone brusing so he’ll be out this Saturday at least and potentially next Saturday. It’s just one of those things, there’s nothing we can do about it.”
The loss of Coates would be a big blow, given his “invaluable” experience at the back, while Campbell “has been a breath of fresh air” since he joined the club.
Gary added: “He’s a naturally left-sided play which we don’t have another of.
“It’s going to be a case of playing someone who isn’t naturally a left winger but we’re confident that we have got people who can do the job.
“We got a good performance out of the boys at Ballymena so hopefully they can bring that confidence into the game tomorrow.
“Who knows? Everyone in football has seen surprise results and there’s no reason why we can’t be that team who surprises everyone.”
No away supporters are permitted to attend, but you can still can see the match on 247.tv/niprem priced at £7.50 with commentary from Jonny Martin and former Linfield player Philip Mitchell.
MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREE: Jamie Robinson
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Andrew Nethery, Adam Jeffrey
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Peter McGrath
LAST TIME OUT: Linfield 8-1 Glenavon – Stephen Fallon opened the scoring for Linfield in the fifth minute, before Kirk Millar doubled their lead from the penalty spot in controversial circumstances on 15 minutes.
The third goal arrived three minutes later, a superb right-foot shot from Joel Cooper from just outside the box finding the far corner.
Glenavon’s Robert Garrett was then shown a straight red card for dissent on 21 minutes, while Linfield grabbed their fourth goal in the 27th minute when Shayne Lavery headed home from Millar’s corner, and full-back Matthew Clarke scored the fifth goal on 34 minutes when he converted from Cooper’s cutback.
Substitute Sammy Clingan pulled one back for Glenavon from the penalty spot on 39 minutes after Snoddy had been upended by Ethan Boyle.
Linfield scored their second penalty and sixth goal through Jordan Stewart in the 53rd minute after Andrew Doyle had been penalised for handball.
Cooper grabbed his second and Linfield’s seventh when he cut in from the right and beat Jonny Tuffey with a low shot at the near post on 78 minutes, and the scoring was rounded off by centre-half Jimmy Callacher in stoppage time when he tapped in at the back post after being found by Cooper to leave the final score 8-1.
