NEWRY City boss Darren Mullen has targeted the St Stephen’s Day Playr-Fit Championship clash against Ballinamallard at Ferney Park (2pm) as “crucial” to his team’s hopes of remaining in the second tier.
Newry – relegated from the top flight at the end of last season – lost 2-0 against Institue at the Showgrounds on Saturdayy, a result which sees the border club one place off the bottom in the relegation play-off spot with Mark Stafford’s Mallards one place and three points ahead.
Mullen, who returned to take charge at the Showgrounds in October, said: “It’s up to me to fix things and keep the club up.
“The Ballinamallard match is crucial as they are just above us so we’ll be trying to close the gap.”
The other St Stephen’s Day matches have 3pm starts, with Limavady United going to Institute for a north west derby at the Brandywell when Paul Owens' men will attempt to maintain at least some pressure on runaway leaders Bangor.
The Seasiders are nine points clear of the Roesiders in the race for automatic promotion to the Sports Direct Premiership and host Ards at Clandeboye Park, the ground the north Down rivals share.
Elsewhere on St Stephen’s Day, Armagh City take on Annagh United at Holm Park and Stephen Small’s Ballyclare Comrades welcome Newington to Dixon Park.
Then on Friday (2pm), third-placed Dundela face the fifth-placed Welders in a red-hot east Belfast derby at Wilgar Park.