It’s do or die in battle to beat drop, admits Rangers boss

CARRICK Rangers boss David McAlinden has warned his boys there is no hiding place as they stare down the barrel of relegation.

The ailing East Antrim team plummeted to the bottom of the Danske Bank Premiership table following their midweek defeat at Ballinamallard United, who edge into the relegation play-off place after their nerve-tingling 2-1 win.

Rangers not only face the challenge of having to win their next two games — something they haven’t managed to achieve all season — but also hope that Ballinamallard slip up along the way.

McAlinden takes his boys to the Oval today to face a Glentoran side who were rampant in their demolition of Dungannon Swifts in their previous outing.

“It’s now sudden death, but it has been like that for a while,” he said. “Previously, our destiny was always in our own hands, but that’s now not the case.

“The facts are simple, we have to win our next two games against Glentoran and Warrenpoint Town. But we also need a favour from somewhere, in terms of Ballinamallard’s results.”

McAlinden admits he didn’t envisage to be in this predicament as his boys performed so well early season.

“I didn’t see it coming, there is no question about that,” he added. “I didn’t think we’d be in this situation with two games remaining.

“But it is what it is. There is no hiding place now. The players know what is expected of them — they realise the significance of the next two games and they know the consequences.”