Big Mac looks to his 'old' leaders

Local

Alan McDonald has his sights on the title

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Glentoran boss Alan McDonald will look to his more experienced players tonight as the east Belfast men aim to carry on their late push for Carnegie Premier League glory.

GLENTORAN boss Alan McDonald will look to his more experienced players tonight as the east Belfast men aim to carry on their late push for Carnegie Premier League glory.

The Glens are coming into form at just the right time and are currently just three points adrift of table-toppers Linfield with five games remaining and indeed travel to Windsor Park for what promises to be a mouth-watering clash on April 12.

Before that game becomes a factor though McDonald's side have to negotiate a way past a team that have already beaten them this season (kick-off 7.45pm).

Limavady United stunned the Glens on a cold Friday night in the north-west in December - a result which signalled something of a wobble in Glentoran's season.

That seems a long time ago now as, having notched up six straight wins, they are right back in the hunt for the Gibson Cup.

The former Northern Ireland captain's young squad have been shown up at times during the campaign but they have grown in recent weeks and McDonald feels that with the help of his 'older' heads the Glens can take this fascinating title race right down to the wire.

From now on in, the experience and leadership of the likes of Paul Leeman, Colin Nixon - who has been in fine form recently - Gary Hamilton, Michael Halliday and Mark Glendinning, who make an albeit very brief return to the team on Saturday against Glenavon, is vital.

"The normal people that you look to - the leaders of the squad if you like - the Paul Leemans, Colin Nixons, Dean Fitzgeralds, Gary Hamiltons and Michael Hallidays - they've been there and done it all before," said McDonald.

"They are not just good players, they are good people too and they do try to help these young kids as well. That is very important. We've only got five games left and this is it - there are no hiding places now."

McDonald admits that although he is thoroughly enjoying this battle at the top, the tension is taking it's toll on his sleep patterns.

In the English Premier League, Sir Alex Ferguson refers to it as 'squeaky bum time' and the drama is no less nerve-jangling on this side of the Irish Sea.

"I'm not getting much sleep on nights before games, I can tell you," added the ex-Queens Park Rangers defender.

"We're three-quarters of the way through the season now and I mean this whole-heartedly, I give the utmost respect to every team we are going to play because in this league anybody is capable of beating any team on any given day.

"Football is a funny business and anything can happen."

Daryl Fordyce will make a return to the squad tonight after missing Saturday's win over Glenavon through suspension.

Elliott Morris is likely to be still out with a back injury and Michael Dougherty should keep hold of his place after an impressive performance against the Lurgan Blues.

Kyle Neill has a calf strain and may not be fit in time to make tonight's game.