IRISH LEAGUE: Glentoran boss Alan Kernaghan keen to improve Premiership form

The East Belfast team are in danger of dropping out of the top six.

Although they enjoyed a midweek Irish Cup win over Ards, they are still smarting from a 4-2 defeat consumed at the home of title holders Crusaders last weekend – after being two goals up inside 30 minutes.

“We were better in the cup – the team did well,” said Kernaghan. “Obviously, our league form needs to improve. We have now lost our last three games.

“I thought we were excellent for the first 40 minutes at Seaview, but we failed to sustain that. It’s something we will work on.”

Kernaghan believes Barry Gray’s boys will provide stern opposition as they strive to shuffle away from the bottom of the table.

“They have won their last two fixtures and are unbeaten in five,” warns Kernaghan.

“We’ll have to be at our best to get anything out of the game. We really need to stop the losing rot.”

Goalkeeper Elliott Morris is still bothered by a back injury and could again miss out.

Warrenpoint Town boss Barry Gray has had a smile on his face of late – following his team’s first back-to-back wins of the campaign against Coleraine and Portadown.

“They were two great results, which our performances merited,” said Gray.

“We pulled ourselves a little bit nearer to the teams above and now all of a sudden they are beginning to look over their shoulder.”