Saturday 20th April
Kick Off 3.00pm
On Saturday we travel to North Belfast to Solitude for game 37 in this season’s Sports Direct Premiership.
With 3rd place now secured, Cliftonville’s league form since progressing to the Irish Cup Final has dipped, with only 1 point gained from their last 4 league matches and including an 8-1 annihilation by league leaders Larne at Inver Park last weekend. They most recently lost 2-1 away to North Belfast rivals Crusaders in midweek.
While Jim Magilton’s side are 2 places and 14 points above us, they are yet to record a victory over the Glens this season. In the first meeting of the sides at the Bet McLean Oval last September, a piece of individual skill late in the second half by Niall McGinn conjured a winner in an otherwise dour 1-0 encounter, before a brace of 2-2 draws at Solitude in December and then again at the Oval in February. Frustratingly, the Glens were unable to hold on to David Fisher’s goal early in the second half of the first fixture and then blew a 2-0 half time lead in the second game and conceded a 95th minute equaliser via the head of defender Odhrán Casey.
Former Glentoran defender Jonny Addis missed the midweek defeat at Seaview, while goalkeeper Nathan Gartside was given a rare start, with regular No1 David Odumosu dropping to the bench after conceding 8 against Larne.
Midfielder Ronan Hale was suspended after being red carded in that game, with winger Stephen Mallon starting in his place, and veteran striker Joe Gormley will hope to retain his spot in the side after netting the Reds only goal.
Declan Devine: “It was devastating to lose Tuesday’s game against Larne the cruel way we did. I thought we started well, could have taken the lead, then responded well to going a goal down through a direct ball that we didn’t defend. We came back well, gave it a good go and never looked like going any further behind. I thought we deserved our equaliser and we matched Larne after it. We definitely didn’t deserve to lose and we need to build on that rather than go back to the poor application we saw at Coleraine.
The lads who came in have a lot to be proud of. Harry Murphy – on his first senior start in a long time after a bad injury - and Johnny Russell had great games in defence and even though he only got a few minutes at the end I thought Kirk McLaughlin showed well and is very sharp. Lads like these and Aaron Wightman are very important to the club’s future so its important to see them given a chance. Johnny’s performances in his first season as a regular as a 19-year-old prove the benefits of good young players at a club. Theo McToal also had a run out recently and there are plenty more here of that standard.
For Cliftonville on Saturday I know Jim Magilton very well and worked with him for a few years at the IFA. He has them playing the way I’d expect from him and he’s done a great job in his first season there. We need to go into this in a similar mood to Tuesday night, not be too cautious and to make sure we have plenty of the ball. That’s how Cliftonville play with some very good players so if we have the ball it means they don’t and we have the initiative. It should be a great game and we need to build momentum going into the playoffs.
Jay Donnelly is suspended after a booking on Tuesday and David Fisher is still struggling with a knee injury so he’s still doubtful. Singo had a dead leg on Tuesday and Luke was rested but both should be available. Also we expect to have Josh Kelly and Cameron Palmer knocking on the door in the next week or 10 days.
Finally, Aaron Wightman had an operation today so he’ll be out till close season. I’d like to wish him all the best for a successful recovery as he’s a major asset to the club and a lad with a great future here ahead of him.”
Tickets for this game can be purchased HERE.
Photographs by JOHNNY CALDWELL