Win the mood

As pleased as he has been with Cliftonville’s Sports Direct Premiership performances this season, Jim Magilton admitted that winning was the only thing that mattered against Ballymena United yesterday.

Having combined substance with style in Monday’s North Belfast Derby defeat of Crusaders, the Reds travelled to The Showgrounds determined to pocket three points by any means, with strikes in either half from Ben Wilson proving sufficient to get the job done.

“It was important that it wasn’t a bit like after the Lord Mayor’s Show,” explained Magilton.

“We had to back up the great performance against Crusaders with another big showing. We had to find a way to win and we did.

“We scored two goals, but missed a few, but you’d take that all day long. It was important we came here and won the game.

“We’re very much a team still developing. It’s encouraging because I think after Monday night, this was another statement of intent. I think last year, Cliftonville came here and lost 4-1 and that’s on players’ minds, so hopefully this is another monkey off their back where they can show that they can get up for another game after a big result.

“It was difficult, very difficult at times. We made life difficult for ourselves because we’ve missed great chances which would have made a things a little bit easier.

“We expected a backlash from Ballymena considering last week’s result and also coming out after half-time.I think we nullified their threats very well and we were threatening on the counter attack.

!The players deserve credit because they found a way to win. It wasn’t all that pleasant on the eye because you have to graft and you have to work for your results here and I thought we did.”