Big Two cup tie 'not about revenge or redemption'

Linfield manager David Healy says Tuesday's BetMcLean Cup second round tie against big Belfast rivals Glentoran is "not about revenge or redemption".

The Blues are eight points clear at the top of the Premiership table but have lost both the league matches the 'Big Two' derby opponents have played this season to date.

The Glens ran out 3-1 winners at Windsor Park in October and then overcame David Healy's charges 1-0 at the Oval in November.

The sides will battle it out for a place in the last eight at Windsor Park, with a trip to Ballymena United the prize at stake in the quarter-finals.

"We have an opportunity in a different competition and we look forward to the challenge," said Healy.

"I don’t think you can go into any game talking about revenge and redemption. All I want to see is a fully fit squad busting a gut for each other, working as hard as we can. That’s what it’s going to take on Tuesday night.

"It may be little bits of quality that win the game for either side but if we do the hard yards we’ll see what the outcome is."

Declan Devine wants to see improvement from his Glentoran side after a 2-2 draw with Loughgall in the top flight on Saturday.

"There are a lot of things we need to improve on before we go to Windsor. We’ve got to be a lot better," said the Glens boss.

"It’s probably the hardest draw you could get in the second round of the League Cup, but if you want to win anything and be successful you have to beat the best."

Glentoran revealed on Monday night that defender Ciaran Coll had agreed to join the club on an 18-month contract, with the option to extend for another 12 months.

Coll spent six years at Derry City and will be available for selection from January.

Crusaders host Dungannon Swifts in the first of the BetMcLean Cup quarter-final ties on Tuesday evening.