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Margin orders

Barry Gray says that the “small margins” he’s spoken about in recent weeks cost Cliftonville dearly in yesterday’s Danske Bank Premiership defeat to Linfield.

A deflected first-half strike from Stephen Fallon set the Blues on their way before Andy Waterworth netted to end both the Reds’ seven-game winning streak and their run of six consecutive away successes.

Gray admits Cliftonville were far from their best but, in a generally even contest, believes his men should have done better in key moments.

“We didn’t do enough to get anything from the game,” he says.

“It was a case of all style and no substance over the 90 minutes. It’s only two defeats in 12 League games, so I’m not going to read the riot act. There was not a lot in the match, but they got the goals that mattered.

“It put us on the back foot at crucial times and I didn’t even get a response from either goal.

“At 1-0, I felt like we still had a chance but the second goal has come at a time that kills us. It was a good break as far as Linfield were concerned, but it left me totally frustrated. We were caught out of position, inviting the counter-attack. That’s the small margins that cost points.”