Michael O'Connor clear 'big changes coming' at Glenavon with Linfield display 'not acceptable'

Matthew Fitzpatrick’s brace combined with a Sam Taylor strike ensured the Blues picked up only their fourth away league win of the season.

The result leaves Glenavon sitting 10 points adrift at the bottom with only 10 matches left to play.

Here’s what O’Connor said after the match:

THOUGHTS ON THAT?

"I thought the first 10-15 minutes we looked decent, we looked bright, we looked lively, we had a couple of chances with Peter Campbell.

"I think once Fitzy got the first goal, I think there was only one team there today, it was Linfield.

"At 1-0 at half-time. I said to the boys at half-time, ‘listen, start the second half really brightly, try and play on the front foot’.

"From our kick-off, 10 seconds later, they're in our box – that set the tone for the second half.

"They got the second, got the third, but listen, our boys went through the motions today, especially in the second half. It's not acceptable.

"There'll be big changes coming next week. Yeah, it's not acceptable. It's probably the worst we've played since we've come in.”

WARNED PLAYERS ABOUT CHANGES LAST WEEK – YOU FEEL THAT NOW HAS TO HAPPEN?

"I made changes Tuesday, I made changes today...you get two young lads come on, Micky Harkin and Luke McGerrigan, teenagers – those two boys actually looked like the only ones that actually want to win, Paddy Burns was the other one.

"I think Paddy comes out today with a bit of credit. I think everyone else needs to have a good look at themselves.

"Listen, I'm the manager, I pick the team, I train them, but once you step over the white line, it's down to yourself to make sure you do the basics of football – that's roll your sleeves up, work hard, win your battles. I don't think anyone won their battles today.”

PUT YOUR FINGER ON WHY THAT IS – MOTIVATION SHOULD SURELY BE HIGH?

"I can try my best to motivate them, but we just look like a team...from the start of the season, it's just carried on and on.

"I thought I was getting a tune out of the boys since we came in, we were playing well but not picking up results, but today, we didn't play well, we didn't pick up a result.

"Carrick as well, we were awful at Carrick, so the last two games have been a real eye-opener for me.

"But yeah, listen, I'll keep working hard and keep trying to get something out of the boys to get us points on the board.”

HAD TO REALLY TARGET THESE HOME MATCHES?

"Yeah, we do.

"I think if you look at it, Linfield's away record, obviously we've got the worst one, but I think Linfield are just above us for the away record.

"Our home record's been good since I've come in. I told them that, but yeah, I think it went in one ear and out the other, everything I said we didn't do.

"We had half the boys wanting to play, another half just wanted to go long and we were caught in between both.

"You know, that's what happens, you fall at the first hurdle. I'm not trying to dress it up in any way, we were awful all the way through.”

ARE CERTAIN PLAYERS PLAYING FOR THEIR FUTURE UNDER YOU NOW?

"It's not just making mistakes, players are going to make mistakes, it happens in football, but I can't have players go through the motions where we are in the league.

"We need everyone sticking together, doing the hard work, earning the right to play, and we just didn't do that today.”