IRISH LEAGUE: Jim Ervin hoping for Ballymena backlash against Glentoran

The Sky Blues are still smarting from last week’s home derby defeat by Coleraine, who finished the game with only nine men.

Ervin knows there will be no hiding place in east Belfast against a team that ended a horrible four-game losing streak by winning at Glenavon last time out.

“Our performance last week was unacceptable,” admitted the former Blues favourite.

“We just didn’t turn up, which was really disappointing. Had we played for another half hour, we still wouldn’t have scored.

“We now have the chance of getting out of of our system at the Oval. They’ll be on a high after their win at Glenavon, but we must focus on what we have to do to get three points.”

Needless to say, United chief Glenn Ferguson didn’t mince his words when he locked his players in the dressing room after the embarrassment.

“Inconsistency has been our big problem this season,” added Ervin. “It’s time we got it sorted. The boss had every right to have a go at the players at the finish.

“It was a derby match, but we just couldn’t raise our game, which was disappointing.

“We are puzzled how we can put in a showing to win the Shield against Linfield at Windsor and a few weeks later turn in such a shabby showing against our biggest rivals.”