Mental fortitude can help Glenavon thrive: Campbell

PETER Campbell wants Glenavon to rediscover the mentality to go with their ability with a topsix finish and a possible Europa League play-off spot on the line for the Mourneview Park men.

Results haven’t always matched performances for the Lurgan Blues this season, who can point to various reasons why their points tally isn’t higher.

Now a drop-off in consistency, which can be aligned to an increasing injury list, is causing frustration.

Glenavon had been on a great run after putting together four wins in a six-match unbeaten run in February — with three wins in a row during that spell — but six games have now passed since they picked up points in successive outings and three of their eight defeats this season have come in the last six matches.

An impressive performance against Coleraine in midweek deserved to yield more than just a single point and now the challenge is to repeat that display against Larne this afternoon.

“You never know what team is going to come out,” said Campbell, who has had a positive impact on the Glenavon team since joining from Loughgall last summer.

“We can go and step up against the top teams, like we have shown against Linfield, Crusaders and Coleraine as well as Larne earlier in the season, or go up against the teams in and around us and not even show up.

“We’re just trying to get that mental aspect into our game to do that week in, week out and play to that tempo that we can all play to because everyone can see it when we do step up to that level.”

There were mixed emotions for Campbell and his team-mates after Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with the Bannsiders. The satisfaction of a performance that was among their best of the season was eroded somewhat when they were denied victory.

“It was disappointing not to get the win against Coleraine,” said Campbell.

“A lot of the boys were sitting gutted in the changing room with heads down. It would have been nice to take three points because I thought we were the better side in the first half by a mile.”

Lee Lynch, meanwhile, has extended his contract at Inver Park which will see him through to the end of the 2023-24 season.