I’d be lying if I said Glenavon's upturn hasn’t surprised me: Stephen McDonnell

Stephen McDonnell is delighted with Glenavon’s progress

Carrick goalkeeper Ross Glendinning saves Peter Campbell's penalty kick

Niall Quinn takes a tumble under pressure from Carrick Rangers' Emmett McGuckin

Peter Campbell reacts after finding the net in the aftermath of seeing his penalty saved

Matthew Snoddy shows his delight after nodding Glenavon in front

Glenavon boss Stevie McDonnell admits he is taken back by the progress his team has made since he took the reins.

The Lurgan Blues beat Carrick Rangers thanks to strikes either side of the break from Matthew Snoddy and Peter Campbell. Both teams had chances but it was the visitors who took their opportunities as Carrick lacked a cutting edge in front of goal.

A frustrating day for home manager Stuart King was compounded in added time when midfielder Joe Crowe was sent off after picking up two yellow cards in quick succession.

Carrick goalkeeper Ross Glendinning saves Peter Campbell's penalty kick

But Glenavon were deserving of the victory, a win that sees the Mid Ulster side sneak into the top six of the Sports Direct Premiership for the first time in a long while. Moreover, Glenavon have a mouth-watering BetMcLean Cup semi-final tie against neighbours and rivals Portadown at Mourneview Park on Tuesday night.

It’s a far cry from when the Dundalk man took the job at the end of September.

“I’d be telling a lie if I thought we’d be where we are now, in the top six with a cup semi-final to look forward to,” said McDonnell.

“We were 11th in the League when I took over, one point off the bottom, so I never thought we’d be this close this soon.

“As much as Glenavon — as long as I have known them — have always been a top outfit, obviously the landscape of the League has