GLENTORAN boss Eddie Patterson says it is imperative his side bring the right attitude to Tuesday night’s second round Irish League Cup clash against Championship 2 outfit, PSNI.
His side’s mixed start to the season has been characterised by an inconsistency that has delivered only one win in their five opening Dankse Bank Premiership matches. With that backdrop, it’s hardly surprising Patterson recognises their match against the PSNI at the Oval as a potential banana skin for the Glens.
The ex-Cliftonville manager said: “If you look at the amount of Premiership clubs that struggled against lower-league opposition in England last week, we’ve had our fair of share of that in the last number of seasons as well, the prime example being in the Irish Cup in 2012 [falling to Amateur league side Newington Youth Club) and we’ll be looking to avoid a recurrence of that.
“We’re a young inexperienced side, the young lads have had an additional season under their belts, so they’re a bit more experienced and what we’re looking for is more consistency over the course of 90 minutes.
“Tomorrow night is about how the boys prepare in our training session and, if our mental attitude isn’t right, we could end up with egg on our faces. If that attitude is right I’ve no doubt we’ll get a result, but it’s not having that strong mentality that every game is a Linfield, Portadown or a Crusaders where our problem lies.”
Last Saturday’s scoreless draw against Glenavon was a microcosm of their lack of consistency to date – fortunate not to find themselves trailing early on, a half-time reorganisation by Patterson and his management team was the catalyst for a second half revival. And while the Glens suffered a recent set-back with the loss of Jordan Stewart to Swindon, Patterson has reported that David Howland has recovered from a long-term knee problem, and may feature against the PSNI.
Tuesday night also marks the closure of this summer’s transfer window, and Patterson is cautiously optimistic of good news for the Glentoran faithful.
“We still have until midnight to bring in a couple of new faces, which we’re trying really hard to do, but it’s easier said than done," he added.
“Our squad is very thin on the ground but, at the same time, we want to bring players in that’ll make a difference to the team, and they have to be as good as or better than what we’ve got and that’s the aim of myself and the coaches. We’re very hopeful, but it comes down to other clubs wanting to let players go.”
LEAGUE CUP SECOND ROUND
(Tuesday, September 1, 7.45pm unless stated): Dollingstown v HW Welders (6.30pm), Ballinamallard United v Banbridge Town, Carrick Rangers v Lurgan Celtic, Coleraine v Ballyclare Comrades, Crusaders v Knockbreda, Dergview v Ards, Glentoran v PSNI, Institute v S&L Swifts, Larne v Portadown, Limavady United v Bangor, Linfield v Glebe Rangers, Moyola Park v Ballymena United,
(Wednesday, September 2, 7.45pm unless stated): Cliftonville v Dundela, Newington YC v Dungannon Swifts, Warrenpoint Town v Lisburn Distillery,
(Tuesday, September 15, 7.45pm): Glenavon v Annagh United
