Glenavon will host Carrick at home tomorrow afternoon following a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of newly promoted Newry City on Tuesday
The Lurgan Blues, still tender from their defeat, hope to bounce back and walk away with all three points come full-time.
The visitors enter into the game on a high, after Stuart King’s men fought off the champions Linfield at home last Sunday to claim their second win of the league campaign so far. Still bruised from their European exit, the Blues fell victim to the Antrim side in what was a shock win for the hosts.
Looking ahead to the game, Gary highlighted the need for Glenavon to get into the right mindset, saying:
“Carrick are a decent side who caused a lot of teams problems last year. We got it last year, especially when we played them at home and they turned us over 4-0, he said.
“That was similar to how we started against Newry the other night. We started poorly and it spread through us like a disease.”
“It has to be a mentality thing or the boys struggle mentally with the pressure of the tag as being favourites,” he added.
“I remember Carrick coming here and winning 4-0 last year, Portadown the year before and I reiterated that we need to start games well against teams who will be in and around us in the table.
“I’m not being disrespectful but it’s more than likely Newry will be in the bottom six as they’ve just got promoted but you need to start well against teams like that.
“You need to get your points at home, you need that mindset going into these games and I was hoping to see a change this year and the elation of last Friday night would give them the belief and the confidence but they didn’t.”
Tickets are available online for the game and can be found in the ‘BUY ON-LINE’ tab in the menu.
TEAM NEWS
Eoin Bradley and Andrew Doyle make their return to the squad following suspension.
Jack Malone is still unavailable through suspension.
Mark Haughey’s availability for selection is in doubt.
MATCH SPONSORS
Match Sponsor: Ex-Directors
Ball Sponsor: Roy McStea
Man of the Match Sponsor: Richard Johnson and Ian Henderson
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Lee Tavinder
Assistant Referees: Ken Ross, Bogdan Sfirloaga
Fourth Official: Glenn Buchanan
