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Boss urges players to keep the faith

Jim Magilton admits confidence is low in the camp following last night’s defeat to Ballymena United but has backed his players to respond in the right manner.

Cliftonville exited the County Antrim Shield at the quarter-final stage courtesy of a first-half strike from Aaron Jarvis, with long waves of possession after the break failing to yield any shots on target.

Magilton could not fault the effort his team put in while attempting to retrieve the situation but acknowledged that they failed to produce the quality necessary to find an equaliser.

“Obviously when you’re playing at home in a quarter-final, albeit against a team that’s flying, it’s an opportunity missed,” he said.

“We started off OK and moved the ball quite well without really hurting them and then we get done with a fantastic strike. We go in at half-time, we regroup, have a chat, make a positive change and we’re thinking about how we’re going to try and win the game. There was a lot of effort and there was a lot of huffing and puffing without really making the goalkeeper work and that’s the disappointing aspect.

“It clearly shows that we’re low in confidence and that’s ebbed away game after game, so the conversation in the dressing room is about self reflection – all of us – and regrouping and trying to get us back to where I think this team can be.

“I’ve been in the game a long time and know that confidence can come and go very quickly but it’s about character. It’s a microcosm of life – when the going gets tough, you have to show real character and determination and all the things that come easy when you’re winning games.

“When you’re not winning games, you have to deal with a lot of outside noise and a lot of criticism but it’s down to the individual, it always come down to you the individual and showing what you’re made of.

“The players will look at themselves and we will regroup and we will come back.”

Cliftonville went into the game with Luke Conlan, Kris Lowe, Shea Gordon, Axel Piesold and Taylor Steven out with injury and, though the likes of Rory Hale, Ryan Curran, Joe Gormley and Ruaidhri Donnelly are still easing their way back in following fitness issues of their own, international call-ups saw both Sean Stewart and Shay Kearney unavailable for selection – but Magilton wasn’t keen to offer any excuses.

“We don’t talk about it that much but, of course, injuries to key players can always have a detrimental effect but, again, it gives someone else an opportunity to come in,” he added.

“In this League, it’s unforgiving and once you get into a groove – as Ballymena have done – momentum is huge and we have to try and find that but that comes down to not losing faith in the group and actually reinforcing the positives and giving players the confidence to play.

“There’s always going to be outside noise and that’s part and parcel of the game. They have to accept that. Football asks so many questions of you, as an individual and as a team, so it’s time to knuckle down and work hard.”