Sports Direct Premiership
Glentoran 0-0 Linfield
GLENTORAN blew their chance to put table-toppers Linfield to the sword for a fourth time this season after the Big Two Boxing Day derby stalemate at the BetMcLean Oval. Linfield stretched their lead at the top of the Sports Direct Premiership to 12 points after Cliftonville slipped up in the North Belfast derby at Seaview.
Glentoran will believe they should have beaten their arch-rivals for a fourth time this season, but striker Jordan Jenkins fluffed his lines on several occasions. ”I think we left two points behind us to be honest, we could have gone in at half-time one, or maybe two ahead,” said the ex-Derry City manager.
”It’s frustrating but I’m extremely proud of the players and their effort and commitment. Everyone told me when I came in this Glentoran team doesn’t work hard enough but we certainly did today but didn’t get our rewards,”.
Referee Shane Andrews kept the Christmas spirit, dishing out 10 yellow cards and two reds for Linfield defender Sam Roscoe and Glentoran skipper Marcus Kane - but his most controversial call was to keep his red card in his pocket when Blues keeper David Walsh upended Jordan Jenkins, who was through on goal.
Devine was furious on the touchline at the time, but he didn’t want to speak freely after the hard-fought tussle. He added: “There were massive turning points in the game but I’m not going to comment too much on it.
“If JJ (Jenkins) gets past Walsh, he puts the ball in an empty net.”It’s as clear as day but it’s a baffling decision. I always felt it would be evened up along the way and that was proven to be the case.”
But Linfield are at the top for a reason and we were more than a match for them.”
After a cagey start, the Glens threatened first on 13 minutes when a clever turn by Jordan Jenkins created space for a shot just inside the Blues penalty area, but he dragged his low shot wide. It seemed only a matter of tie before Devine’s men would open the scoring and when Jenkins latched onto a flick-on from David Fisher on 34 minutes a goal looked certain, but after the bravery to win the ball and get there before Walsh, his lob sailed agonisingly wide.
But a minute later, the Blues had a golden opportunity to score completely against the run of play when a teasing early cross from Kirk Millar looked destined for Joel Cooper, but he failed to make contact just two yards from goal.
Jenkins was denied yet again by Walsh just after the break before the controversial moment came when he looked certain to score before being taken out by the keeper, but with covering defenders, referee Andrews got the call correct.
Linfield’s best chance came just after the hour when Stephen Fallon’s header crashed off the bar, but they were then reduced to 10 men when Roscoe was dismissed for a second caution, followed by Kane seven minutes from time and neither side could force a winner.”I don’t think there was much in the game but maybe Glentoran shaded it.
“We gifted them one or two chances. I warned the players all week sometimes this game can become chaotic and it did at times, but we now look forward to Monday’s game against Larne and we know that will be another hard battle,” said Blues boss David Healy.
Glentoran:
Gyollai, Lyons-Foster (Lindsay 83), Kane, Hvid, Sule, Connolly (Russell 85), Palmer, Fisher, Amos, Singleton, Jenkins (Aouachria 80). Subs not used: Mills, Donnelly, Murphy, Douglas, Thorndike.
Linfield:
Walsh, Roscoe, East, Whiteside, Shields, Millar (Ballantyne 79), Cooper, McKee (McGee 72), Fallon (Archer 79), Mulgrew, Orr. Subs not used: Johns, Allen, McDaid, Annett.Referee: Shane Andrews (Comber).