‘Plenty to play for’ insists Ferguson

IF you’re of the opinion that Ballymena United’s season is over, it might be best not to mention it within earshot of Glenn Ferguson.

The Ballymena United boss, who has winning ingrained on his character after a trophy-laden career as a player, bristles at the suggestion of merely going through the motions in the remaining four games of his debut season as a manager.

Instead, Ferguson has asked, if not demanded, of his players that they continue their present eight-game unbeaten sequence through to the end of the current campaign.

“It has given them a target, something to aim for,” Ferguson told Times Sport.

People might say ‘there’s nothing to play for’ but we believe we have.

“If you go on a run of matches where you don’t lose, it instils confidence and gives the boys a lift going into pre-season next year.

“There’s nothing worse than losing your last two or three games and the players going into the summer break on a downer.

“If we can get this winning mentality, or at least not losing mentality, into them going into next year, hopefully we can carry that forward.”

The next hurdle for Ballymena to overcome if they are to meet Ferguson’s challenge comes in the form of a trip to Dungannon Swifts today (Tuesday, 3pm).

“It will be a difficult one because they’re scrapping for points but we will go there with the same mentality and attitude as we have been showing.

“But we’re getting players back again and we will have Davy Munster and Ross Black available again after suspension.”

There was also a surprise appearance from the bench of Jordan Baker in Saturday’s 3-0 win at Donegal Celtic. It had been believed the striker would miss the remainder of the season after sustaining facial injuries during a night out in February.

“Jordan got the all-clear during the week and he has been working on his fitness and it was nice to be able to bring him on on Saturday.

“It was good that he was able to get 15 minutes and that we were in a position of winning comfortably and able to rest all three forwards ahead of Tuesday’s game.”

Ferguson also praised his players for maintaining their focus despite the setback of United’s expulsion from the Irish Cup, over the Alan Davidson saga, being upheld by an Independent Arbitration Panel last week.

“Once we got the news I spoke to them in training but we didn’t want to dwell on it too much.

“We told them it was over and done with and we could now concentrate on the remaining league games and not to think about it one iota and they did that at the weekend,” added Ferguson.

After today’s game, United are at home to relegation-threatened Carrick Rangers on Saturday, when the match ball sponsor will be Ballymena Lawnmower Centre.

Further ahead, Paramount Supporters’ Club’s final monthly table quiz of the season takes place on Friday, April 20, in the Bowling Club (8pm).

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