POST-GAME VIEW: 'It's just about three points' - Glentoran result the only reward that counts after winning response on the road

Here’s the verdict of Glentoran first-team coach Tim McCann:

OVERALL PERFORMANCE...

"I just thought it was a really, really hard-fought game...both teams left everything out on the pitch, you could see by the end everybody was wrecked.

"But on a day like today, it's not about how you play, it's not about formations, it's not about tactics...it's just about winning tackles and headers and taking your chances when they come. "We didn't play well by any stretch of the imagination but I just thought we had that little bit of extra quality.

"We probably could have scored another couple, which is a little bit disappointing not to kill the game off because you're always hanging on then at 2-1 and they can get anything.

"So pleased with the three points and we just move on.

"Today all we cared about was getting the three points and making sure that we gained ground (on leaders Larne).

"After losing to Larne the other night (Tuesday), it was important to get back on the horse again and important to get three points.

"Today it's really strange...it's probably the first game of the season where we've not got a corner.

"It's just one of those things but there were times we dominated possession but just couldn't get that killer instinct at the other end to make it a little bit easier for us.

"It's about game management as well and I thought we defended very, very well.

"I keep harping on about it...at this stage of the season, it's just about three points. "If you can put a good performance in...brilliant - but three points, that's what we needed today."

CAMERON PALMER...

"Cammy Palmer's goal was absolutely superb.

"He's an old-school box-to-box midfielder.

"He's very, very cool on the ball but he'll also win his headers, he'll also win his tackles.

"I think he scored a very similar goal to that last year against Linfield where when you see him going through, you know he's going to score. "Sometimes you see centre-forwards go through and they panic and maybe hit the keeper or try to lob the keeper.

"Cammy was very cool and collected and it was an absolutely fantastic finish."

TITLE RACE...

"I heard somebody saying that Larne have one hand on the trophy but there's no trophies handed out in January and you certainly don't give anything up. "I've been in football too long...we were getting criticised previously in November with two points out of 15, all of a sudden we won four in a row and everything's rosy again. "You just have to put a run of wins together and try and just keep plucking away at the points and see where that takes you.

"It's 10 points with a game in hand and still to play Larne twice, still to play other teams twice.

"Listen, all you want to do is just be in there with the hunt come the split. "You could potentially look back at this game and say that was the game that got it for us.

"We're sitting in third with a couple of games in hand over Coleraine as well but we just want to keep pushing.

"Make no bones about it...Europe was always the focus from minute one. "We've been out of Europe for too many years now and we need to get back in.

"The boys know that and they're trying their eye strings out every day.

"We know some of the football today wasn't good enough but the energy and the commitment was and the three points is all we wanted, so happy enough."

GLENAVON...

"If Glenavon can keep playing like that, they'll definitely give themselves a hell of a chance because they've put it up to teams here and it's a really, really difficult venue.

"We came here a number of weeks ago and got beat and deservedly. "So it's a tough, tough venue and if Glenavon can keep playing like that and putting the fighting spirit into that then they'll get more points."