IRISH LEAGUE: Glenavon assistant boss Paul Millar under no illusions ahead of Cliftonville test

The Lurgan Blues and Cliftonville had feisty and close battles last year and Millar expects more of the same this time around.

“This is a big, big game for both clubs and Cliftonville are sitting on the same points as ourselves. It will be a big game and as we finished near each other last year, so the next week or so is going to be massive for us.

“But you get the same three points for beating Carrick as you do for beating Cliftonville, as you do for beating Linfield.

“So we will be looking to get another three points on the board,” he added.

And Millar said he had mixed emotions after drawing 3-3 with Ballymena United on Wednesday night after his side had been 3-0 down.

“We deserved to be 3-0 down and they stopped us from playing. But we gave away too many free-kicks, too many corners and too many throw-ins in dangerous areas, which played into their hands.

“But we came out in the second half after Gary (Hamilton) went through the boys at half-time and then we came out and started well and got hit with a sucker punch.

“But the great thing about the set of boys we have had here over the last two to three years is that they never give up.

“They were 3-0 down, were not playing well, away from home.

“It would feel like one of those nights, but fair play to them they kept battling and got something at the end.

“It was great that Guy Bates took the responsibility and scored the penalty.

“And well done to Greg Moorehouse, who had little to do but he pops up with a header and Ciaran Martyn comes on and scores.

“And I thought at the death Gary had a great chance but I thought a draw was a fair result but we are delighted with the character and fight the boys showed to get back into the game.”