Glentoran manager Declan Devine described his side’s 1-0 Premiership loss to rivals Linfield as “a really painful defeat” – and felt they were denied “a stonewall penalty” in the opening minutes at Windsor Park.

Matthew Fitzpatrick’s second half strike proved the difference as the Blues extended their unbeaten league run to nine matches while denting the title hopes of their ‘Big Two’ nemesis.

A major talking point came after just two minutes on Saturday evening as Glens striker Jordan Jenkins went down inside the box following a challenge from Darragh Leahy, but referee Steven Gregg waved away penalty appeals.

Jenkins and Aaron McEneff had chances to put Glentoran ahead but the visitors couldn’t capitalise and were made to pay the ultimate price when Fitzpatrick fired home his 17th Premiership goal of the season from Ethan McGee’s long throw.

placeholder image — Glentoran manager Declan Devine. (Photo by INPHO/Brian Little)

After leaders Larne were beaten by Carrick Rangers the previous day, both Linfield and Glentoran would have looked at their weekend fixture as a chance to make title strides, and Devine was left devastated by the result.

"It’s sore because you never want to lose here,” he told the club’s media channel. “It’s a really painful defeat.

"In the second minute, we have a stonewall penalty not given. It doesn’t matter if it’s the second or 92nd minute, it’s a penalty.

"For it not to be given is a huge turning point in the game.

"We didn’t give up too many opportunities in the game. We didn’t defend a long throw into the box and they win the game with their only shot on target.

“We also had two or three glaring opportunities that we have to put to bed, you just have to put them in the back of the net in a game with fine margins.

"I have to say that I can’t fault the players, every single one of them put in an incredible shift, worked so hard and we were dominant in long spells of the game, but ultimately we go away with zero points.

"We’re at a stage of the season where points are more important than performances and when you create the chances we did, you have to have that bit of quality to put the ball in the back of the net.

"As a result, we end up coming away from here with nothing.”

Devine’s men entered Saturday’s contest having lost just one of their last nine league matches while no team has collected more points on their travels this term than Glentoran (29).

They currently sit in fourth spot, 10 points behind Larne with two matches in hand on the Inver Reds, and Devine insists they have to channel the pain of a weekend setback in a positive manner.

"It’s crazy that we lost the game,” he added. “I just didn’t think they hurt us enough, didn’t think we were in any real trouble, we defended well and played on the front foot, we attacked them at every opportunity.

"The final product wasn’t there.

"There’s still a lot of games to be played, but to dominate a ‘Big Two’ game at Windsor Park and to come away with nothing, it has to hurt to your core and it does.

"We have to channel that pain into performances and results going forward.”