Glentoran have zero interest in table talk, says Peers

GLENTORAN defender Gavin Peers admits that he doesn’t really look at the Danske Bank Premiership table — even though his team are now right bang in the middle of the league title mix.

Following their impressive 3-0 win over fierce rivals Linfield in the Big Two Boxing Day shootout at The Oval, the east Belfast team are now deemed as serious challengers.

Goals from Hrvoje Plum, who bagged a deadly double, and Elvio van Overbeek sent the home fans wild with delight.

The Glens are now only three points behind Danske Bank Premiership leaders Cliftonville and one adrift of both Linfield and Coleraine.

Astonishingly, after the Boxing Day results, only four points separate the top five clubs.

Peers, however, insists his team will not be distracted by their lofty position — and their impressive 11-game unbeaten run. Instead, their focus is completely on today’s clash against David Jeffrey’s Ballymena United at The Oval.

“I don’t look at league tables,” said the big Dubliner.

“I have been fortunate enough to win a few things during my career, I just look at the next game.

“Stats don’t really mean a lot to me.

“For me, it’s all about going out onto the pitch and winning games of football.

“If you are winning, you enjoy it and I want to continue to do that.

“We’ve got a bit of momentum and we’ve great team spirit. We just have to keep doing what we are doing, winning games of football.

“If we do that, then we’ll maybe be in and around the teams at the top.”

Even at this stage, it promises to be one of the closest title races for many years.

Peers prefers his team to keep a low profile.

He added: “We’d rather let people talk about other teams when it comes to the league table.

“There are a lot of good teams there, Cliftonville,

Linfield, Coleraine and Crusaders.

“We prefer to operate under the radar.

“I’m just really enjoying my football at the minute.

“I admit I didn’t really enjoy it for the last two or three years.

“But I’ve found a place that I can now enjoy playing again.

“Since the gaffer (Mick McDermott) and Windy (Paul Millar) have come in, I’ve really enjoyed working with them.

“They have helped me enjoy football again.

“I’m happy to lend my experience to the rest of the team, especially the younger

lads.

“Hopefully we can push on and win something.”

Peers has formed a great understanding with another new summer signing, Paddy McClean, but he insists it’s a team game.

He added: “I’ve played with Paddy, or Willie (Garrett), while Calum (Birney) is there as well.

“We have good players at the club.

“At the start of the year we were not keeping clean sheets, but now we have just clicked. In this league, anything can happen.

“You can’t afford to jump ahead.

“Our focus is now on Ballymena United.

“We like to keep clean sheets, but our aim is to win the game — that’s all that matters.”

Peers has urged the Glens must build on their Boxing Day victory.

He added: “It was a great win for us.

“First and foremost, it was for Moko (captain Marcus Kane, left), who lost a baby son earlier in the week). We asked everyone to leave it out there on the pitch for him — and I think we did that.

“We’ll need to continue that form and attitude for the rest of the season.

“I thought we were the better team, to be honest. Even when we were under a bit of pressure, we were in control, we didn’t feel like we would concede at any time.

“We knew the Blues would come out all guns blazing in the second half, so it was up to us to defend well when needed.”