Solit foundations

Jim Magilton has reiterated the importance of making Solitude a fortress as Cliftonville prepare for their second home game of the Sports Direct Premiership season.

The Reds, who kicked off their domestic campaign with victories over Portadown and Glenavon, face another Mid-Ulster foe when Dungannon Swifts travel to north Belfast this evening and, having experienced a mix bag against Rodney McAree’s side last term, Magilton is well aware of the threat the visitors will pose.

“We’ll be ready to play against a very good team,” he says.

“They’re a well coached side who will come to Solitude and look forward to playing. We’ve got to make Solitude a very difficult place for every team to come to.

“Home form can be so important for any team that wants to achieve anything and, as much as points matter no matter where you get them, everything begins with doing well at home.”

The boss revealed that he will assess the fitness of a number of players ahead of the game, with Shea Kearney having limped out of Saturday’s win over Glenavon, seven days on from Ruaidhri Donnelly doing likewise against Portadown – situations which Magilton believes require his squad to be flexible.

“We have that adaptability in the group,” he explains.

“For example, on Saturday, we had Conor Pepper – who I thought was outstanding for us in centre midfield – going into wing back because Shea had to come off. We’d the option of bringing in Kris Lowe but he’d only just returned to training last week, so getting minutes into him – another very, very good player – was important for us.

“Adaptability within the squad is important for us and we’ve seen that with players who we’ve asked to do a job for us. There are a lot of players we’re still trying to get minutes into and it’s been pleasing that we’ve been able to do that over the last couple of weeks.”

Cliftonville v Dungannon Swifts
Tuesday, August 20 (7.45pm)
Adults: £15
Concessions: £10
Tickets: General Sale
Members Tickets and Season Tickets valid