The Belfast giants approach what has been billed as the biggest fixture on the local calendar with contrasting fortunes
Glentoran defender Johnny Russell believes his team have the character and hunger to take the bragging rights in Boxing Day’s classic Big Two showdown with Linfield at Windsor Park.
It promises to be a Festive cracker in front of a sell-out crowd. The Belfast giants approach what has been billed as the biggest fixture on the local calendar with contrasting fortunes.
Declan Devine’s Glentoran are coming off the back of one of their biggest wins of the season following their dramatic comeback victory over Coleraine last week, while the reigning champion turned in one of their most disappointing performances, which resulted in them being defeated by the League’s rock-bottom side, Glenavon.
Only one points separates the teams in the Sports Direct Premiership table, which perhaps sums up their season so far – inconsistent! But Russell reckons the win over Coleraine can be the platform for Glentoran to produce something special in the second half of the League campaign.
“We have a great group of lads,” said the Northern Ireland Under-21 international. “There is a lot of character and bottle in this squad.
“We know ourselves our form prior to the Coleraine game wasn’t good enough.
“Some of the performances haven’t been bad, but we have been giving away sloppy goals at one end, and we haven’t been taking our chances at the other end.
“I think the win over Coleraine was a big statement. That win demonstrates what we are about as a team and as a group. We need to bring that attitude into every game we play.
“Hopefully, it’s the turning point for us and we can now kick start the season, not better place than against our big rivals on their own grown ground.”
