Glentoran star Jordan Stewart believes Carrick Rangers’ 7-1 hammering at Cliftonville last weekend “probably came at the worst time for us” as Duncan Ferguson’s side prepare for a trip to Taylors Avenue – but has called on The Oval outfit to build on their “feel-good factor”.

Carrick had put together a four-game unbeaten Premiership run and climbed into the top-half prior to a shock scoreline at Solitude.

The last time Carrick conceded seven goals in a league match – against Glentoran in January when Pat Hoban scored six – it sparked a superb run with Stephen Baxter’s men going on to register a record-breaking points tally and collect their first senior trophy in 33 years.

Stewart scored the first goal of Ferguson’s Glentoran reign by netting a late equaliser against league leaders Coleraine last Friday, and while expecting a Carrick reaction, the 31-year-old insists the east Belfast club need to focus on themselves.

placeholder image — Glentoran's Jordan Stewart scored the first goal of Duncan Ferguson's reign. (Photo by Desmond Loughery/Pacemaker Press)

“To be honest that result probably came at the worst time for us as I’m sure Carrick will be counting down the hours until kick-off as they will be looking to get that game out of their system,” said Stewart. “I don’t think anyone would have been expecting that scoreline last Saturday, but that’s football, it can throw up results like that every now and again.

“Knowing Stephen like I do as well as a lot of their players, they will have been hurt by it, and that’s always a dangerous thing when you’re the team up to play them next.

“They are at home as well so they will be looking to make amends, I have no doubt about it.

“For us though it’s about looking after our own jobs and what we need to do, and the manager and his staff will have us well prepared going into the game.”

Stewart’s strike against the Bannsiders helped Glentoran extend their unbeaten Premiership run to six matches with Ferguson enjoying a solid start to life in the Irish League.

The high-profile appointment of Everton legend Ferguson has brought extra attention to Northern Irish football and Stewart has enjoyed working with his new boss.

“Duncan’s been brilliant since he came in, all the boys really bought into him,” he added. “It’s been a different style of play and there’s been a lot of things to get used to.

"We’ve been working hard as well, but we’re really enjoying it.

“There’s been a freshness to the group and long may that continue. We’ll just keep buying into what he says and make sure we keep working hard.

“We’re on a good run of form at the minute, but we need to try and maintain that for the next five or six games as well. If we do that we will pick up more points along the way.

“There is a real confidence about the squad and I think that was shown in the performance at Coleraine. We have to harness the feel-good factor from Duncan’s arrival as well as continuing to work hard.

“If we maintain that there’s no reason why we can’t keep picking up points.”