Down Ports!

Make no bones about it, this is a crunch game for United when they take on third placed Portadown in their postponed game. No Sky Blue fans need reminding of what the Ports did to us in the Irish cup semi-final a couple of seasons ago and they 'mugged' us twice already this season, although we contributed to our downfall in the first game at Shamrock Park. There can be no slip-ups tomorrow night, we just can't afford them, four points from our next two games and we get a bit of breathing space. We won't be out the woods by any stretch of imagination, but it will give us a wee cushion for the four potential cup finals we then face.

Distillery, Glenavon, Dungannon and Carrick Rangers will be fighting for their very existence and they'll be 'blood and thunder' matches. Not that our next two matches against the 3rd and 2nd teams in the league will be a pushover, but we might see a bit of football played, but they'll be no quarter asked or given. United must do without the services of Captain Jenks as he serves a one game ban and young Neil Lowry is away with the Norn Iron youth team. On the plus side Sparky is expected to take Jenks place and that only leaves Spike to pick one from the two ex-Ports men, Ally and Jordan. Ally gets the Sky Blue Sports team vote, for he gives us width, but Baker gives us another striking option, or Spike could spring a surprise and introduce someone we don't know.

There's rumours flying around tonight about us going to sign a 'mystery man' from over the border, but as far as we know they are only rumours. We couldn't honestly see a player who would make a difference, playing for the sort of money we would be paying. Roy Walker has left us in 'dire straits' because he spent our budget on substandard players, many of them on two year deals and that is Spike's legacy. There's an old saying, 'you can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear', but Spike and the boys are going to have to try. If they get our level of fitness up then maybe the boys can do something about trying to compete on an even keel, not get over-run as we have been in so many games this season. We need the 'right' goalie in the nets, whether it be Dwayne or Wayne and the right defence in front of him and in the absence of Jenks that will surely mean Tony Kane retaining his place in the back four. It's going to be tough, but we need to be tough, come on United, let's down those Ports!