Home to roost

Jim Magilton believes his players were determined to put on a show for the Red Army when they returned to Solitude for the first time in a month last night.

Joe Gormley rattled in a hat-trick alongside Ben Wilson’s double as Cliftonville delivered a five-star display against Coleraine to seal their third Sports Direct Premiership win in eight days.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” beamed Magilton.

“We haven’t been at home for what feels like years, so it was important that we put on a real show. I felt we were really determined to do well and we did.

“In terms of our quality in the first-half, we got into really good areas and were poor with our final ball, our decision making and our passing. The players understood that and then, in the second-half, they were fabulous – their choice of pass, their quality was outstanding and, when you get into those areas, you have to go cold and be ice cool and we did that and obviously scored some wonderful goals.”

An injury sustained by Sam Ashford in training presented an opportunity for Gormley – who had recently been sidelined with a niggle of his own – to start for the first time since the victory over Newry City on August 15 and he wasted no time in getting back in the old routine, with a first-half header being followed up by two left-footed finishes to seal yet another matchball for his collection.

“I’ve always watched Joe from afar and thought he was a fantastic player and working with him now is wonderful for me because I just know his quality,” added Magilton.

“In training, his finishing is magnificent and his goals in the game just summed him up. He was unlucky with one that hit the crossbar but even in those first moments, you just felt that Joe was on it.”