Danske Bank Premiership:Glentoran v Dungannon Swifts (today, 3pm)
NEW Glentoran boss Alan Kernaghan has already seen signs of progress despite defeats in his first two games in charge.
Given that those games were against the champions of the past three seasons, and away from home to boot, the results were understandable.
However, he saw big differences between the 3-0 league loss to Crusaders at Seaview last Saturday and the 3-2 defeat by Cliftonville in midweek at Solitude:
“We didn’t play particularly great against Crusaders but they were very good in terms of what they did and how they did it. It was different with Cliftonville – we had them on the rack for 45 minutes. Then unfortunately 13 minutes at the start of the second half cost us the game really.”
The Reds turned a 1-0 half-time deficit into a 2-1 lead in that time, and went on to win 3-2, aided by visiting striker Curtis Allen getting himself sent off for a second yellow card earned by a handball.
While Kernaghan was impressed by both opposing teams, he has also found his Glens squad “very good. Obviously we have tried to change quite a few things in terms of the style of play and they have taken those on board.
“They’ve shown a huge jump forward between the two games – the only thing that’s been missing for me has been the result.”
Yet he acknowledges he’s already seeking players to improve his panel, despite budgetary limitations:
“There’s scope for changes, but January is always difficult… because there’s nobody really out of contract. Teams don’t really want players to go to the opposition. But we’re certainly looking and we’ll hopefully be able to do something in January.
This afternoon brings his first game at The Oval, hosting Dungannon Swifts, and the former Republic of Ireland international says: “It’ll be nice to see what kind of support we get.”
The Glens fans should certainly warm to the brand of football he espouses: “I want quick one- and two-touch passing, going forward and creating lots of chances really”.
