Mick McDermott says he has "never seen anything like it' as his Glentoran side are not only battling to get back to winning ways, but also to get players back in action again.
The Glens exited the BetMcLean League Cup at the hands of Linfield on Tuesday night, but the disappointment of missing out on a final was compounded by the loss of four players during the game.
Patrick McClean limped out of the warm-up before Aidan Wilson and Hrvoje Plum followed him before the second half.
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Right at the end Mal Smith needed lengthy attention from the medical staff after an accidental clash to complete a bad night for McDermott's men.
"We have a number of players missing at the minute,' said the Glens boss.
"Everyone thinks Conor mcMenamin, but there's also Ruaidhri Donnelly, James Singleton, Marcus Kane, Hrvoje, who wasn't supposed to play but gave it a try, Aidan was feeling ill but also wanted to play and then felt his quad tighten during the game.
"Then Patrick turned his ankle in the warm-up, so to lose two centre halves in the first 20 minutes, compounded with the other players who are also struggling was a big blow.
"The number of players who are missing at the minute...I've never seen anything like it in my time here.
"We had three 18-year-olds on the pitch at the end, now I know that's no consolation to our fans but that's the reality of where we are at the minute.
"We have to get through it and we will. We'll have boys back gradually.
"One positive was Seanan Clucas coming back. He hadn't kicked a ball in three months, but at least he showed effort and commitment."
McDermott was frustrated by his side's start to the game and said it left them with a mountain to climb as Linfield took advantage, scoring twice in the first half hour.
"We started poorly and stood off them in the first 25 minutes and let them get into a rhythm," he said.
"When you start a game like that it's hard to dig out.
"The first goal was a good header, but we should have someone in front of him, and the second was really poor, the boy ran 40 yards, chopped it back a couple of times and still got a shot away.
"It wasn't the goals which killed us, it was the way we started which led to the goals that killed us.
"You're playing in a 'Big Two' game in the semi-final of a cup you can't start a game like that.
"If you had put our reserve team out you would have expected a better 30 minutes in terms of effort, commitment and desire.
"So that was disappointing, and obviously we're disappointed to lose the game.
"I don't think they were anything special, but we made them look special in the first 30 minutes."
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