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Glenavon host Warrenpoint Town in tonight’s latest Danske Bank Premiership game.
The Lurgan Blues have been putting in some excellent performances recently, most recently in a 0-0 draw with Coleraine at the Showgrounds.
But that valuable point has come at a cost. Colin Coates misses out tonight through suspension while Andy Hall and Andrew Doyle, who both came off during Saturday’s draw, are out through injury.
There will also be a sweat on the fitness of Peter Campbell, who also came off during the scoreless stalemate, with his chances of making tonight’s game rated as “doubtful”.
Despite the injury list growing once again, Gary Hamilton has been full of praise for his players’ mindset in recent weeks.
“We had to make three changes [on Saturday] due to injury. We had to make two the other night due to injury. But the players keep going, they’re relentless,” he said.
“I can’t ask anything more of them. The club can’t ask anything more of them, and they can’t ask anything more of themselves either.”
Tonight’s game will be “another difficult game” according to the Glenavon boss.
He added: “Warrenpoint always put up a good game against us but we will have to wait and see what our bodies are like, get a game plan together and get ready to go again.
“Hopefully we can try and put together a good performance and sneak three points if we can.
“At the start of the season everyone expected them to be in the bottom two and fighting relegation, but they’ve done super this year. They’ve signed some really good players and the game we played against them was a really tight affair.
“They beat Linfield earlier this season, who are going to win the league by the looks of things. If you can beat the champions then you can beat Glenavon, it’s as simple as that.
“We have to make sure that we have the right mentality, that bodies-wise we’re OK and be able to put out a strong enough team to get the right result.”
The game is once again behind closed doors, but former Glenavon and Warrenpoint Town player Simon Kelly joins the Glenavon Media team on commentary for our coverage on 247.tv/niprem. Access is free for season ticket holders and £5 for everyone else. Coverage begins at 7.15pm.
MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREE: Evan Boyce
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Gareth Eakin, Jamie Carnduff
FOURTH OFFICIALS: Shane McGonigle
SPONSORS
MATCH SPONSOR: M R T Belfast
BALL SPONSOR: Brownlow House
MAN OF THE MATCH SPONSOR: Craigavon Koi Aquatics
LAST TIME OUT: Glenavon moved up to sixth place in the Dankse Bank Premiership table on December 19 with a 2-1 win over Warrenpoint Town. Conor McCloskey and Danny Purkis found the net after Alan O’Sullivan had put the Point ahead.
