Crunch time for United’s top six hopes - Ferguson

The Sky Blues have just four games left before the league ‘split’ at the end of March as they attempt to finish in the top half since the format was introduced.

While Ballymena were drawing with Coleraine on Saturday, Glenavon’s win over Portadown saw them leap-frog Ballymena into sixth place on goal difference, while the Lurgan side also have three games in hand amid fixture congestion caused by the recent poor weather.

“We have to keep the players fully focused now,” said Ferguson.

“There’s a cup quarter-final coming up and no-one is guaranteed their place. Players need to keep competing because we need to get points on the board - if people don’t do that, they won’t play in the quarter-final.

“Players have to be on their mettle for every single game and not holding back thinking ‘I don’t want to get hurt and miss the cup match’. We have to be competing at 100 per cent in every game.”

United host Warrenpoint Town this Saturday (3pm), with Ferguson admitting: “It’s a must-win game but we will only beat them if we perform at a high level.

“We’ve had to change the team over recent weeks because we’ve had different gameplans for different games and this week could be the same,” added Glenn.

The manager will definitely be without midfielder Gary Thompson, who begins a two-match suspension after accumulating 10 yellow cards.

The match ball for Saturday’s game will be sponsored by Glenfield Renewables.