Glentoran and Cliftonville set to do it all over again in Premiership duty after penalty drama in BetMcLean Cup

The Glens welcome their city rivals once again to The Oval after the pair squared off in the quarter-final of the BetMcLean Cup on Tuesday night.

Declan Devine’s men managed to oust holders Cliftonville on penalties after the contest ended 1-1 after extra-time to set-up a last-four clash against Coleraine early next year.

However, Premiership duty now returns for Glentoran and Palmer has issued a rallying call to his team-mates to get back to winning ways after tasting three games without a win.

He said: “Tuesday night was right up there with our best performance of the season, probably alongside our away performance at Coleraine earlier in the campaign. From the first whistle we were brave, we played with real purpose and some of the football we produced from back to front was excellent.

“But what pleased me most was the character we showed when we went behind in extra-time. Lesser teams fold in that moment, but we didn’t. We dug in, kept believing and got the reward our overall performance deserved.

“Those recent league results against Glenavon and Dungannon Swifts hurt us, and even the draw with Bangor on Friday was difficult to take. We know that is not the standard expected at this club. I felt that Tuesday night’s performance was a real step in the right direction and a reminder of what we are about as a team.

“There’s a real never-say-die attitude in this squad, a willingness to fight for each other and for the supporters and that has to be the benchmark going forward. That level of intensity, quality and togetherness must be the minimum if we want to achieve what we’re capable of this season.”

While still searching for his first goal contribution of the campaign, Palmer stressed how he is comfortable doing the “dirty work” for the team but equally believes that every player has a responsibility to contribute more in the final third.

“I am comfortable doing the work that people do not always see, whether that is winning duels, keeping possession, breaking things up or making sure we stay organised,” he explained.

“Everyone in the team has a responsibility to contribute in goals and assists and I want to add more of that to my game as well.

"My job is to help the team function properly and do the role the manager trusts me with, but I also want to make an impact in the final third when the opportunities come.

“To be honest, I feel like I am playing some of the best football of my Glentoran career right now. I feel confident, I feel fit and I feel like I am contributing in the way the team needs me to.

“Of course, I would love to increase my output with goals and assists, but my main focus is working hard, doing my job in midfield and giving the lads ahead of me the platform to go and win matches.