On to the next one says Mick McDermott

The Glens seemed to struggle against both the windswept conditions and a resolute Bannsiders side as they slipped to only their second home defeat of the season.

The result leaves The Oval outfit four points behind leaders Linfield in the race for the Gibson Cup.

McDermott though isn’t getting too dispirited just yet with ten games still to go.

“We have won other weeks when we didn’t play well,” said the Head Coach.

“Saturday wasn’t really a day to be playing, but we didn’t get the result.

“It’s not the end of the world. We don’t get too high when we win and we don’t get too low when we lose.

“It’s just on to the next one.

“It would have been nice to be sitting six points ahead of a rival, but now we’re even on points.

“Is it where you want to be after the match? No.

“But is it interesting for the run-in? Yes.

“I’m not too disappointed, I just wish the weather would heat up, it was baltic out there!”

New signing Deivydas Matulevičius came off the bench to make his debut for the Glens last Saturday.

But McDermott said the Lithuanian international striker still needs a bit of time to get up to speed as he hasn’t played in several months.

“He’s not match fit yet,” said McDermott.

“He was at a training camp in Turkey, he played a couple of friendlies there but it didn’t work out with that team.

“The last time he played a game was in late November, so he’s maybe a couple of weeks away, but we knew that when we signed him.

“He will help us. He’s good on the ground and he’s good in the air.

“Once he gets into a rhythm he will cause problems for teams.

McDermott is hopeful fellow ne w boy Ruaidhri Donnelly will be available for his debut tonight after missing out last week with a stiff back.

“Ruaidhri woke up and was like the tin man, he had tweaked his back,” revealed McDermott.

“It’s one of those things he will be okay in a couple days.

“It would have been nice to give him his first start last week.”

Carrick Rangers arrive at The Oval brimming with confidence following their excellent 2-0 win away at Ballymena United last week.

Goals from Kyle Cherry and Daniel Kelly gave the Gers a deserved win over the Sky Blues and keep them on the coat tails of Glenavon in seventh place.

“I thought we were superb to a man, especially considering the players we had missing,” said boss Niall Currie.

“We dealt with the conditions well and managed the game efficiently, seeing it out.

“I thought we fully deserved it and were worthy winners.

“The players were magnificent and ran themselves to a standstill.”