John Mountney maintains full faith Glenavon can escape their perilous position at the bottom of the Premiership table with “calm and composed” Michael O’Connor instilling real belief.

After beginning the current campaign with 11 consecutive league losses, the Lurgan Blues’ relegation fate appeared sealed, but the Co Armagh club have given themselves a lifeline under O’Connor.

Having followed up Saturday's 3-1 triumph at Bangor – their first away win of the season – by collecting a point on the road against Ballymena United, Glenavon have moved within six points of Crusaders.

Across the last five matches played by each top-flight team, only four have picked up more points than Glenavon (seven) and they’ll be looking to make up further ground in this weekend’s Mid-Ulster derby showdown with Portadown.

placeholder image — Glenavon's John Mountney. (Photo by Alan Weir/Pacemaker Press)

They’ll then face a crunch clash with the Crues at Seaview on March 14 before rounding out their pre-split schedule against leaders Larne.

Mountney, who won five Premier Division titles and also experienced relegation at Dundalk, believes Glenavon have what it takes to survive and wants to continue applying pressure to their nearest rivals.

"What I've gathered as a fresh pair of eyes coming in, our performances have been there and it's just about consistency,” he said. “We have had that over the past week or so...it's the business end, the most important thing is results because time is against us.

"The games are coming thick and fast so we have to take every game as it comes.

"This week has been good for us picking up four points, but it's only good if we can pick up another three against Portadown.

"If you look above us, there's a few teams not too far ahead and there's plenty of games left. All we can do is focus on ourselves and hope that if we pick up more points it'll tighten that gap.

"Mick has been very good. He has been refreshing with the position we're in.

"I have been in this position before with Dundalk when we got relegated a few seasons ago, it was very similar with changes at the club, players coming and going, managers coming and going, but a difference is that Glenavon are in a stable position as a club.

"I think Mick has really steadied it, he has been very consistent with his messaging and instilled a lot of belief into the group to keep doing things right and that we can climb out of this position.

"The important thing is he has remained calm and composed, it's easy to give a message but you have to carry it...the way he carries himself, he has an aura of calmness and he definitely has given us a belief and licence to go and play."

Mountney had spent the entirety of his career in the League of Ireland prior to joining Glenavon last month, but he’s thoroughly enjoying a fresh chapter aged 33.

"It has been really refreshing,” he added. “I had played in the League of Ireland for so long that you know the players, grounds, you know it inside out.

"It was a new chapter in my career, I have been enjoying it.

"I'm based in Dundalk, my wife is from here and we have a little daughter as well so I needed something which was close and realistic for travelling.

"It had been something I have been thinking about and looking into, even coming up to Christmas, and Glenavon is the closest club to Dundalk.

"I had played with a few lads there before and from what I had heard, it seemed to be a false position in terms of a lot of movement in the group throughout the year. It was a different sort of challenge but one I'm enjoying."