Gary Boyle backs Newry City to embrace pressure of fighting at League basement

Newry City boss Gary Boyle has backed his relegation-battling team to relish competing against the Premiership big guns

Newry City manager Gary Boyle is expecting to face a resurgent Glentoran team on Saturday, but he wants his players to rise to the occasion.

While the Glens are looking to force their way back into the title race, City lie in bottom spot ahead of their visit to The BetMcLean Oval.

The home side will be expected to run out comfortable winners, but football doesn’t often work like that, and Linfield survived a real scare against Dungannon Swifts at Windsor Park.

Earlier in December, City held Crusaders 1-1 at Seaview, and that performance and result gives them confidence they can frustrate another top Belfast side.

Glentoran look as if they mean business again after a convincing win over Linfield and strong showing at Cliftonville, however City are in Christmas party-wrecking mode.

“It will be really difficult, we have picked up League points against Crusaders and Ballymena but the Glens are in a good moment,” admitted Boyle.

“We watched them in the last few games and they were really impressive. We are under no illusions how big the task is.

“Before the Crusaders game, we were looking for a spark to reignite, and sometimes this League can be unforgiving. You can play well and not get results.

Adam Salley scored Newry City's equaliser to make it 1-1 in their eventual BetMcLean Cup Quarter-Final defeat to Dungannon Swifts

“The players have been superb and stuck to their task well. A positive result against Glentoran would be a huge lift going into the festive games. All the pressure is on the Glens, they are expected to beat us, and we have to make sure they show their quality.”

Glentoran will be looking