Kristal clear assessment

Kris Lowe believes Cliftonville have the quality and the honesty to enjoy a strong second half of the season.

Having achieved their early-campaign target of being in the mix at the top end of the Danske Bank Premiership at Christmas, the Reds will bid to maintain their unbeaten start to 2023 when they host Ballymena United tomorrow – and Lowe is confident that he and his team-mates are equipped for the myriad challenges that lie in store.

“Our aim at the start of the season was to get to Christmas and if we’re still in with a shout and in touching distance of the top teams then we’ll take it from there,” he explains.

“We’re at the end of January and we’re still fighting and taking it week on week. It’s an old cliché but game by game and we’ll see where it takes us.”

Lowe continues: “We have the players there; I look around the changing room and it is such a talented squad full of hard work, dedication, and the honest side of the game as well. We have it in abundance and it’s up to us to keep the head down and not panic.”

You can read the full Lowe interview in tomorrow’s edition of our Matchday Magazine, which will be on sale at Solitude for £3.

Carrying pre-match views from the Manager’s Office, The Red Eye’s 18th issue of the campaign reflects on the Sky Blues’ endearing unpredictability and steps 129, 39 and 28 years down memory lane – plus plenty more besides.

Cliftonville v Ballymena United
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