IRISH LEAGUE: Glentoran boss Gary Haveron is demanding a response against Carrick Rangers

Glentoran boss Gary Haveron insists sentiment will not be an issue when he visits his former club, Carrick Rangers, on Saturday!.
Gary HaveronGary Haveron
Gary Haveron

Haveron, who was in charge at the Loughshore Hotel Arena for a three year spell - which ended last season after he helped the club escape relegation - will have only one thing on his mind on his return . . . . three points!.

“I’m looking forward to going back, but our focus must be on winning the game,” said the former defender. “I’ll be looking for a professional performance, regardless of all the side issues.”

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For the first time since arriving at the Oval, Haveron was visibly disappointed with his team following their County Antrim Shield defeat by a teenage Crusaders side in midweek.

“It was difficult to take any positives from our performance,” said Haveron “We were flat. We never reached the level of our display in the second half against Cliftonville a few days earlier.

“We were so wasteful, it was annoying. But that has been our problem for most of the season . . . we are not scoring goals when on top in matches. We are not ruthless.

“Don’t take anything away from Crusaders. They were a lot of young boys putting their body on the line when it was needed. I suppose if you are good enough, you are old enough."

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Nacho Novo, who hit his first goal for the Glens in last week's win over Cliftonville, is the latest player to join the queue for the treatment table after sustaining a hamstring injury against the Crues.