Michael O'Connor sends clear 'won't play for me' message after Glenavon 'bottled' Irish Cup tie

Teenager Luke McGerrigan put the visitors ahead at Solitude with a superb strike, but the Reds were handed a lifeline when Micheal Glynn’s second half corner was diverted in off Joe Gormley.

Jim Magilton’s side had Sean Robertson sent off after 72 minutes, but continued to look the more dangerous team and booked their spot in the sixth round through Jonny Addis’ last-gasp thunderbolt.

O’Connor was left extremely disappointed with Glenavon’s failure to grab the initiative after Robertson’s dismissal and was clear players will be dropped if errors aren’t eliminated.

"We gave away silly free-kicks, which we do all the time,” he said. “We give away stupid free-kicks in the worst areas possible and give the team a chance to score and that's what we did last kick of the game, it's a tough one to take.

"(It’s been happening) all season and I keep showing them clips, but they're not taking the information on board. I think around 35-40% of goals are scored from set plays.

"They're not taking it on board and giving away a silly free-kick, it gives them a chance to score in the last kick of the game and listen, it's a great strike, but it shouldn't have got to that stage.”

When asked how does he correct the issue of players not taking information on board, O’Connor replied: “I keep giving the information and if the same players keep doing it, then they won't play for me – simple as that.

"But it's collective, it's different players every week. We're diving in and we're giving away stupid free-kicks.

"There's no waiting, just putting ourselves under pressure, and it has to change.”

With Glenavon failing to win a match away from home this season and yet to record consecutive victories, Saturday’s clash offered a chance to break both hoodoos.

"It's definitely a tough pill to swallow,” added O’Connor. “I thought we dominated in the first half, we came here and showed (character), we knew we had to.

"I think the game changed when they went down to 10 men, I thought we were worse after that. We were overplaying, didn't move the ball quick enough.

"I rotated the squad today, brought three or four in. Luke McGerrigan did really well, I'm really happy with him. Luke Cartwright did really well.

"John Mountney’s first game in 12 weeks, I thought he was super. I think when he went off we looked a different team, the experience he's got.

"It was a great chance for us to dig in the next round and we've absolutely bottled it today."