Gray: Let’s Carri on from midweek

Barry Gray is hopeful that Cliftonville’s midweek victory over Knockbreda can be the platform towards better form but doesn’t expect an easy time of things when he takes his side to face Carrick Rangers tomorrow.

The Reds travel to the Belfast Loughshore Hotel Arena with seven points from as many Danske Bank Premiership outings and, up against a team that has lost just one home game this season, Gray has warned Cliftonville they are in for a battle.

“The pressure is on us because of how we have started the season and it doesn’t really matter who we’re playing because if we dish out performances like the one at Glenavon last week, then Carrick will have a good chance of beating us,” he admits.

“It will be an uglier game than Glenavon, there’s no doubt about that. It will be a break down scenario. We’ll go out on Saturday and try and do what we need to, but we’ve miles to go to get to the level we want to be at.

“Any win will give a team a lift and beating Knockbreda was good for confidence levels but Carrick will obviously be a step up and David McAlinden will have them well organised, well drilled and working to a gameplan. We know what we’re capable of, though, and we need to make sure we deal with the pressure that’s on us and deliver.”

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