Glenavon need to tighten up to push on: Hall

VERSATILE Andy Hall believes Glenavon must stop leaking soft goals if they are to climb back into the top six in the Danske Bank Premiership table.

Following heavy defeats to Linfield and Larne, Gary Hamilton’s troops registered their first league win since September 21 at Warrenpoint Town last weekend.

With Stephen Baxter’s Crusaders due to visit Mourneview Park this evening — the game has a 5pm start — Hall reckons it’s an ideal opportunity for the Lurgan Blues to continue their rehabilitation process.

“It was good to get a win at Warrenpoint Town,” said Hall, who can operate on the wing or in a more defensive role. “It’s now important to build on that.

“Our league form hasn’t been good enough so a win there was vitally important, especially as we are going into a little period of playing teams at the top of the table. We also have Cliftonville, Coleraine, Glentoran and Linfield on the horizon.

“We produced one of our better performances of the season at Seaview a few weeks back.

“We gave them a tough game and we really should have left with at least one point, only for missing a spot-kick with practically the last kick of the game.

“It’s an opportunity for us to kick on and there is no bigger scalp than the Crues. Generally, games between the teams are eventful and high-scoring.

“Both teams like to attack, they don’t sit back, so hopefully we can come out on the right end this time.”

Hall (right) admits those defeats at Linfield and Larne — they shipped a staggering 13 goals in the two games — were difficult to take.

He said: “Our pride and morale took a pounding. Yes, we’ll be beaten, but you don’t expect to ship six and seven goals.

“As players we needed to look at ourselves for both performances. We were not good enough defensively and we gifted far too many goals. A lot of the goals could have been avoided. We were unfortunate to play Linfield on a day when they clicked. We probably didn’t help ourselves, but they happened to produce one of their best performances.”

Glenavon also suffered a depressing 3-2 defeat to Newry City in the League Cup on Wednesday

night. Once again, the home team were in a charitable mood.

“It wasn’t the result we wanted, it was a bad night,” added Hall. “Defensively, we probably gave them three goals. We have been conceding too many goals.

“The league table doesn’t look good in terms of the goals we have been conceding.

“I know the boss doesn’t like to make excuses, but we have had a lot of injury problems.

“A lot of key players have missed key games. The boss has had to play boys out of their position. In saying that, we have a big enough squad.”