NIXON’S LOOKING UP

Ards v Glentoran, 3pm Danske Bank Premiership

ARDS boss Colin Nixon admits his former team can expect few favours when they travel to the Bangor Fuels Arena today.

Nixon (inset), who made 792 appearances for Glentoran in an 18-year stay, will not let sentiment get in the way as he strives to inch his side away from the dropzone.

They pocketed only their second win of the league campaign at Ballinamallard United last weekend and the manager believes they can glean confidence from that result.

“Hopefully it was the shot in the arm we needed,” he said. “We need to get few more wins on board to put a bit of daylight between ourselves and the teams below us.

“We have been struggling to put the ball in the net but hopefully the two goals we got at Ferney Park is the end of the drought Although Glentoran lost to Crusaders in midweek, their improved form has been well documented so we’ll need to be at our best.” Nixon is sweating on the fitness of goalkeeper Aaron Hogg and midfielder Kyle Cherry but Scott Davidson and Michael Ruddy could come into the frame. Meanwhile, Glentoran chief Gary Haveron admits his will be looking for a response after his team crashed 3-0 to the Crues at The Oval on Monday night.

“I blame myself for the defeat,” he said. “I possibly set up our team wrong, I’ve got to take a bit of responsibility. We decided to go toe-to-toe with Crusaders and on reflection that wasn’t a good idea.

“We should have tried to stifle the middle of the park, where all the danger comes from. We went 4-3-3 against a very strong and powerful Crusaders side which was wrong. Unfortunately we turned in our worst display of the campaign. But it’s now up to the boys to show a reaction.”

Meanwhile, Cliftonville boss Barry Gray will order the same again when his team face

Warrenpoint Town at Solitude.

The Reds have gone goal crazy over the past seven days – defeating Linfield 3-2 in the league before racking up a 7-0 League Cup success against the PSNI – which has delighted Gray.

“I knew things would turn for us,” he said. “The secret is producing that form on a consistent basis. It’s vital we build on last week’s win over the Blues.”

In today’s other league game David Jeffrey’s Ballymena United travel to Stangmore Park to face Dungannon Swifts.

The Sky Blues will look to shrug off the disappointment of last weekend’s derby defeat by Coleraine.