HARVEY: WE LACK BITE
Glens boss calls for ‘toothless’ players to look sharper or face relegation
Glencairn boss Willie Harvey has called on his “toothless” players to show more sharpness in attack – or see their relegation fears worsen.
The Glens slumped to a 3-0 defeat away to Kilbirnie on Saturday – leaving them second bottom of the league.
Despite the result, the Glens enjoyed plenty of the ball, but struggled to create many chances.
And with last season’s top marksmen Garry Smith, Jay McKay and Dale Simeon all out through injury, the lack of firepower is costing the team.
Harvey said: “We’re not playing too badly, but we are toothless going forward at the moment.
“It’s a consolation we are playing alright, but consolation is not going to keep us in the league.
“This isn’t aimed at Liam Gormley up front, because if you put the ball in the box then Liam will score goals – that’s the sort of player that he is, he’s a predator and he is working hard for us.
“But we’re not providing him with the chances he needs and we must improve that. Saturday wasn’t the first time we’ve struggled to create anything despite having a lot of the ball.”
The Glens boss admitted his team are badly missing their injured forwards, with McKay recovering from a knee injury,Smith out with a back injury and Simeon missing on Saturday because of bruised ribs.
He continued: “When you’re sitting with only one real striker it’s difficult, and when you take Smith, McKay and Simeon out the team then you’re losing 80 goals from last season.
“It’s hard to overcome. Jay is going for a scan this week and if that shows up as clear then we can up his rehab and hopefully get him back in the near future.”
The Glens training session on Monday was cancelled due to the weather, with the players and management having a “frank” meeting instead to discuss their form.
Harvey explained: “It was an open forum and we agreed anything could be said as long as it wasn’t personal.
“It was a frank conversation about how we have been playing and what we can do to improve and there were things said we can look to implement.”
The Glens will look to turn those words into action this Saturday, when they play Petershill in the Scottish Junior Cup.
The manager added: “It’s come at a good time for us because it’s a week when there isn’t the pressure of needing to get three points.
“Obviously there’s still pressure, but it’s not a bad time to have a week off from the league.
“Petershill are a sleeping giant and are the sort of team that can have a good week then a bad week.
“They’re struggling in the Championship but they are still dangerous.”
We’re not playing too badly but we’re toothless going forward