Belfast Telegraph

NO OLD PAL’S ACT: Page 54

- BY GRAHAM LUNEY

said Evans. “The manager, Brendan Rodgers, is trying to instil a belief in us and we are getting that as we go along.

“We will go with the desire and belief that we can win the game.

“We are unbeaten, and that gives you confidence.

“There will be times in the season when we’ll have bad results and difficult results and it will be up to us how we respond.

“I think everyone has ambition, and that comes from the chairman right down and everyone working in the club to be as good as we can be and push to try and take the club to a new level.” LINFIELD old boy Joe Crowe says he’s hungry to inflict Big Two pain on the Blues tomorrow.

The first blockbuste­r derby battle of the season kicks off at Windsor Park with both sides confident they can make a strong statement.

Revitalise­d Glentoran, under new ownership and boasting a stronger squad, are already packing a bigger punch this season, while David Healy’s men are now focusing on their title defence after just missing out on the Europa League group stages.

Crowe, who moved across town in August 2018, said: “When I came back from England, I was in the Linfield side that lost to Glentoran.

“Then the Blues beat us twice last season. Hopefully my luck will change this time.

“It’s a massive game for both clubs. We’ve won five games on the bounce, so we are in a good place at the minute.

“There is no reason why we can’t extend that run. Big Two games are always feisty affairs, and this will be no different.”

Glentoran have moved up to third in the Premiershi­p table, with Linfield five points behind Mick McDermott’s outfit in eighth with three games in hand over their rivals.

CROWE’S RALLYING CRY: Page 57

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