NEWINGTON V GLENAVON 6q1r10 A LOOK AHEAD

NEWINGTON V GLENAVON, A LOOK AHEAD 9662s

On Tuesday 1st October 2024 Glenavon travels to Inver Park to face Newington in the first round of this season’sBetMcLean Cup. The match, which kicks off at 1945, will be played to a finish with extra time and penalty kicks, if required. i3z45

Newington is presently in bottom place in the Playr–Fit Championship. However, the Belfast club has lost only one of its five home fixtures. In fact, it is unbeaten in its last four. Last Saturday it drew 1-1 with Dundela.

“We will respect Newington and prepare as professionally as we would for any other game,” said Stephen McDonnell. “It is a match we want to win. Winning games, no matter what the level of opponent or the competition, breeds confidence. We are on a good run of form and want to keep it going.”

Stephen revealed that, although there are no injury concerns, he may make changes. “We will have a strong team for this match, packed with quality,” he said. “However, this is a busy period, and we have an important fixture this weekend, so we may have to manage some players’ workloads.”

The Blues’ boss was delighted with his team’s performance in the scoreless draw against Glentoran at the Oval. “I thought that we deserved to win the game,” he said. “We created at least three gilt-edged chances and forced their keeper to make some brilliant saves. They, on the other hand, did not have a single clear-cut opportunity.”

McDonnell felt that the second half substitutes made a big difference. “It is the first time this season we have had a lot of experience on the bench,” he said. “That gave us lots of options. The lads who came on changed the entire dynamic. Credit to the starting eleven. They laid the foundation. But then the quality which we introduced took it on and, in the end, we could easily have won the game.”

Stephen reckons that the team is becoming stronger as new players settle and become accustomed to each other’s styles of play. “A month ago, some people were jumping to conclusions before we had even got everyone onto the pitch at the same time,” he added. “Rome wasn’t built in a day. It takes time for players to gel. Patience was always going to be needed.”