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Steven Crawford

Rodney McAree reveals reasons for Glentoran to relish trip to Solitude

Rodney McAree says he is relishing the big games as the business end of the Irish League season is well and truly underway.

McAree takes his Glentoran side to Solitude on Saturday afternoon for a mouthwatering clash with Cliftonville.

Both sides know they cannot afford to drop points as they bid to keep pace with league leaders Larne.

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McAree is well aware of the challenge facing the Glens with Paddy McLaughlin's Reds yet to taste defeat at home in the league this term.

But the Oval outfit have been in impressive form themselves and have yet to lose since McAree took over from Mick McDermott.

"It's one of those games you relish," said the Glentoran boss.

"As a player you look forward to going to Solitude in front of a full house with both sets of supporters making a good atmosphere.

"Paddy has something good going at Solitude.

"They are a very good footballing side, they work extremely hard for each other and seem to have a really good togetherness.

"We'll go there though with confidence in ourselves too."

Glentoran should be at full strength for their trip across Belfast with Bobby Burns and Niall McGinn both missing the win over Ballymena United.

McAree was full of praise for their replacements at The Showgrounds and joked he may pass selection duties on to his assistant Tim McCann.

"I joked with Tim that he can pick the team and let the boys know who isn't playing," he said.

"It will be tough because Bobby is back from suspension and Niall should come back too.

"James Singleton and Ruaidhri Donnelly came into the team against Ballymena and did extremely well.

"I'm delighted for Ruaidhri, he puts a big shift in and does a lot of unseen work.

"He's very good defensively from the wide area and he's a great lad to have about.

"I was undecided as to whether I'd go with him or Junior as we were missing Niall, but I plumped for Ruaidhri as he has done really well recently and has shown a really good attitude in and around the training ground.

"Coming to Ballymena on a Friday night he knows what that's all about so I was delighted to see him grab a couple of goals.

"I thought we started the game poorly and were sloppy and lethargic in the first half hour.

"I thought Ballymena did better than us in that period.

"Once we started doing things quicker and a little bit tidier we gradually grew into the game.

"I thought we finished the half well. I thought Ballymena started the second half well again but for me we controlled the rest of it and thankfully we got the three points."

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