'We're not going there to just sit in'

Glenavon head coach Michael O'Connor admits Friday night's trip to Coleraine is 'very tough,' but one that everyone at the club is looking forward to.

The Lurgan Blues have lost the two previous meetings of the clubs this season, including a heavy 5-1 defeat at the Showgrounds back in November, but have shown green shoots of recovery in recent weeks.

They have also strengthened in the January transfer window and are a different proposition now than they were in the early part of the season, according to Bannsiders boss Ruaidhri Higgins.

Speaking to the Glenavon club website O'Connor, part of the coaching staff during Dean Shiels' time in charge at the Showgrounds, acknowledged the scale of the task awaiting the away side this weekend.

“It will be very tough,” he conceded.

“They were strong before the transfer window but they have added even more quality.

"It's a difficult place to go and we will need to be at our best. We will also need a few breaks to go our way but it is a match we are looking forward to.”

On their previous visit Glenavon were well in the game until goalkeeper Mark Byrne was sent off late in the second half, defender Harry Murphy taking over in goal.

"I thought that we did really well for 42 minutes,” he said told the Glenavon club website.

“Bridel [Bosakani] had a great chance to put us in front just before that. Then they scored either side of half time. It knocked the stuffing out of us.

"They added three late goals – two of them when we were down to ten men - but there weren’t four goals between the teams.

“We will probably play the way we did last time for the first 30 or 35 minutes and try to frustrate them and maybe hit them on the break.

“But we are not going there just to sit in and let them have all the possession and do what they want. When the play opens up, we will attack them.

“Everyone in our team will have a specific role. It's all about doing that job well, not jumping out of position and not leaving gaps for the likes of Joel Cooper and Matthew Shevlin to exploit.

"We have worked on it in training this week. Hopefully, the 11 players selected stay disciplined and do what they have been asked to do," he added.

The Lurgan Blues are expected to include a number of their January transfer signings in the matchday squad, including the on loan Glentoran duo of striker Nathaniel Ferris and midfielder Charlie Lindsay.