CITY’S BIG TEST: Pages 50-51
DANSKE BANK PREMIERSHIP MICK McDermott’s Glentoran revolution is under way with a 1-1 opening draw with Glenavon at Mourneview Park last night.
Having been part of a consortium, headed by British-Iranian businessman Ali Shams Mohammad Pour, which resulted in the club being bought over earlier this month, McDermott has breathed fresh optimism into a team previously blighted by financial difficulties.
He made an appeal to the Glentoran fans to come out in big numbers to get behind the side last night, drafting a personal letter on the club’s website – and those supporters didn’t disappoint.
“Our future includes you,” he stated. “I have only one goal – to drive the club forward. And, with the help of the fans, I hope to do that.” LINFIELD manager David Healy has warned their title rivals that the Blues will be even meaner and stronger this season.
The Blues start the defence of their Danske Bank Premiership title at home to Institute today with real momentum after a 2-1 win against FK Sutjeska in Montenegro in the first leg of their
If last night was the sign of things to come, then the future is certainly looking bright for the Oval outfit.
Although the East Belfast boys had to settle for a share of the spoils, their high energy performance, complimented by flashes of skill, certainly suggested there are good days up ahead at the Oval.
They got off to the best possible start with Darren Murray firing them into an early lead, which was wiped out by a Sammy Clingan (below) free kick.
Just to compound matters for Gary Hamilton’s team, defender Rhys Marshall was dismissed before the interval following a crude challenge on Joe Crowe.
But the Glens were still given a rousing ovation on the way off by their big support. No doubt, they’ll be back for more.
FULL REPORT: Page 53 Europa League third qualifying round tie.
Finish the job on Tuesday night at Windsor and the Blues will be one play-off tie away from group stage action that will net them around £4m.
But domestic commitments are their sole focus this afternoon and after clinching their 53rd league championship with three games to spare in April, Healy’s men are raring to go again.
The Blues supremo, who has welcomed on board Shayne Lavery, Bastien Hery, Ross Larkin and keeper Rohan Ferguson, has issued a ‘catch us if you can’ cry to his rivals.
“I always say to the players that Linfield traditionally have set the benchmarks and the standards for Irish League teams,” said Healy (left).
“I know coming to watch Linfield when I was young that no matter how successful the team is there will be people who can go back and talk about teams who were even more successful so the demands are always here. It is up to us to constantly step up to the plate and live with those demands.
“With the demands at Linfield, whether we are league champions or not, everyone wants to come and beat us.
“That will never change. We welcome the challenge and we relish the challenge.
“The players stood up to the challenge last season.
“We need to make sure we not only stick to the standards that we have set but also raise the bar.”
LET BATTLE COMMENCE: P54-55 LIVERPOOL blasted out an early message to Premier League champions Manchester City with a convincing 4-1 win over Norwich City at Anfield last night.
Jurgen Klopp’s men stormed into a 4-0 lead by half-time and last season’s Championship winners had to settle for a consolation strike after the break.
The only concern for the Reds was a calf injury to goalkeeper Alisson which saw him replaced by summer signing Adrian.
A Grant Hanley own goal opened the scoring and Liverpool doubled their lead when last season’s top scorer Mohamed Salah applied an assured finish. The game was less than half an hour old when Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk scored the third. Divock Origi headed in the fourth just before the break.
Norwich were rewarded for not giving up as Teemu Pukki made it 4-1 just after the hour.
VAR was used for the first time in the Premier League but the start of the second half was delayed as assistant referee Simon Bennett encountered problems with his headset.
Manchester City begin their title defence at West Ham today (12.30pm).