CARRICK RANGERS V GLENAVON, A LOOK AHEAD

On Tuesday 10^th February 2026 Glenavon faces Carrick Rangers at Taylor’s Avenue in its next Sports Direct Premiership fixture.

Carrick Rangers are currently in sixth place in the league table with 32 points from 26 fixtures. Last Saturday Stephen Baxter’s side lost 3-1 to Coleraine at Taylor’s Avenue after extra time. Adam Leckey scored the Amber Army’s late equaliser. The County Antrim side had won its previous four matches, including a victory against Cliftonville in the Cawoods County Antrim Shield Final.

Although Glenavon lost narrowly to Cliftonville in Saturday’s Clearer Water Irish Cup sixth round tie, Michael O’Connor took a number of positives from the 2-1 defeat. “I thought we were very comfortable for the first sixty minutes,” he said. “We didn’t look like conceding and we got Charlie Lindsay and Luke McGerrigan high up the pitch. Paul McGovern, Nathaniel Ferris and Gavin Gilmore also caused them problems. Obviously, Luke got the goal, and we went close several other times.”

But the Blues’ boss was also disappointed with the team’s display during the final twenty minutes. “When they went down to ten men our mentality changed,” he reflected. “We thought that we could just do what we liked and forget about the approach we had adopted up to that point. Our passing was too slow. No one was prepared to make forward runs off the ball. We didn’t threaten them at all. It was almost as if we, not them, had one man less. They looked hungrier ad more determined. It was a great opportunity to go through to the quarter final. I was really disappointed on Saturday and I am still disappointed now.”

Michael felt that the set piece which led to Johnny Addis’s sensational 95^th minute winner should not have been conceded. “We have a habit of giving away needless free kicks in dangerous areas,” he continued. “Mikey Harkin is a young lad making his way in the game. He acted rashly and will learn from his mistake. But you should not be giving the opposition a free shot at goal from 20 yards with 30 seconds left. Listen, it was a great strike. Two keepers wouldn’t have saved it. But it was unnecessary.”

O’Connor did not agree that the withdrawal of Charlie Lindsay, Paul McGovern and John Mountney at almost the same time as the Reds brought on Joe Gormley and Rory Hale seemed to swing the pendulum towards Cliftonville. “That should not have happened,” he added. “We introduced Paddy Burns and Sean Carlin who are both regular starters and have been playing well. Joe [Gormley] and Rory [Hale] are top players so you would expect them to make a difference. But, talking about our substitutions on Saturday overall, I will accept that they did not make the impact we had hoped they would.”

The Belfast man was delighted with the contributions made by the four players who came into the side – Luke Cartwright, Mountney, McGerrigan and Barney McKeown. “I thought they all did very well,” he said. “Luke Cartwright hasn’t played for weeks but didn’t put a foot wrong. That was John’s first start for three months. He is going to be an important player for us. Luke McGerrigan was excellent and so too was Barney. Six or seven weeks ago we could not have altered the side as we did and brought in genuine quality. All four lads have given me a selection headache which is exactly what you want when you make changes.”

Michael feels that the display at Solitude is another indication that things are moving in the right direction. “We went to Coleraine in November and lost 5-1 yet we went back there a couple of weeks ago and pushed them really hard,” he said. “Similarly, we lost 5-2 at Cliftonville in December and obviously performed much better on Saturday. The players we have brought in have definitely made us stronger. Now we need to produce a quality performance away from home for the full 90 minutes and take the three points.”

O’Connor expects Carrick Rangers to be as tough an opponent or tougher than either Coleraine or Cliftonville. “Although they lost at the weekend, they are on a good run,” he said. “It is going to be a battle. We will have to win our duals all over the pitch and earn the right to play. We will need to be physical but not get drawn into any tit-for-tat stuff. Hopefully, if we do that, it will give us enough possession to hurt them.”

Michael reckons that improved confidence is the reason for Rangers’ recent improvement in performances and results. “Not so long ago they lost 7-0 to Glentoran, but they have bounced back really well,” he admitted. “They have a lot of experience which helps. As well as that, they have changed the way they play and tightened up at the back. Then, up front, they have Leckey, Gibson and Heatley, three quality players. They are in good form which makes our task more difficult. But the win at home to Cliftonville gave our lads a boost. We will go there and give our best. Hopefully, it will be enough.”

Glenavon is boosted by the return of Conor Falls who was not available for the two fixtures against the Reds. Kris Lowe trained all last week. Less positively, Oran O’Kane and Ben Wilson remain absentees and Stephen Mallon felt his groin during training on Thursday. “Scott Hughes will assess Stephen,” added O’Connor. “Hopefully, it is not too serious.”

In August 2025 Glenavon lost 1-0 to Carrick Rangers at Taylor’s Avenue. However, in October, the Lurgan Blues defeated the East Antrim men 1-0 at Mourneview Park.