On the run

Jim Magilton wants his players to take “confidence and belief” out of the last week-and-a-half as they prepare to take on Crusaders in this evening’s North Belfast Derby at Solitude.

Cliftonville got back to winning ways with an undaunted display against Coleraine in their last home outing before producing an even more accomplished performance when Linfield were put to the sword last weekend – and Magilton wants more of the same tonight.

“It’s all about confidence and belief,” he says.

“When you go through a period of not winning games, suddenly you start doubting yourself. We reinforced to the guys ‘you are good players, but you’ve got to go and prove yourselves’.

“When you are around the lads and you are training with them, you know what they are capable of. If they don’t produce, then it’s more disappointing for me and the staff. We know we have good players and we know, on our day, we can give any team in the League a game. It’s important to reinforce that message.

“The games are coming thick and fast with Crusaders next up. We’ve proved we can match the best in the League, it’s getting a run together now – that’s what it’s all about.

“A few weeks ago, we talked about the level of performance, it was nowhere near where it needed to be. It was nowhere near the standards the players had set.

“We played well in patches against Coleraine and we played well in longer patches against the Blues, so, it’s all about building on those displays, which means we’ve got to go again and try to get a run together.”

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