Lyttle drawbacks

Gerard Lyttle felt Cliftonville were architects of their own downfall in yesterday’s Sports Direct Premiership defeat to Portadown.

Behind when Ryan Mayse was given the benefit of the doubt in a very tight offside call just four minutes in, the Reds saw a Joe Gormley leveller ruled out for the same infringement before Conor Pepper picked up two quickfire yellow cards from referee Rob Hennessey.

The League of Ireland official also ruled that Jonny Addis had denied Eamon Fyfe a clear goalscoring opportunity just minutes before half-time and, with Cliftonville eager to reach the break in order to regroup, Ahu Okhakhan touched in a second to make the visitors’ task all the more challenging.

“It’s obviously a poor day for us,” said assistant boss Lyttle, who took charge of the team with Jim Magilton serving a touchline ban.

“We credit Portadown for getting the win but I think we beat ourselves, if I’m being honest.

“In the second-half, the boys have come out, battled and shown a bit of heart and desire not to concede any more but in the first-half, the game was done. It’s hard enough when you lose one player, when you lose two players, it’s always going to be backs against the wall.

“It was the nature of how we lost our players and how we conceded the goals that’s really disappointing.

“Jonny’s is definitely a red card so there’s no point in talking about that but with Conor Pepper’s, I think we need a little bit of common sense from the referee. He’s just been booked and I think the pitch played a part in him getting a second yellow card in terms of timing your tackles and timing your passes but when you look at it, I don’t think there’s been any contact. The ref, for me, is too quick to give him another card.”

Prior to either dismissal, there was a moment of controversy when Odhrán Casey was booked following an off-the-ball altercation with Mayse, leaving Lyttle to admit: “Again, it’s a potential poor decision from the referee because he was lucky that the referee missed it.”

Despite being at a significant numerical disadvantage, Cliftonville showed spirit after the break and, while they were unable to fashion a route back into the contest, they ensured Portadown did not increase their lead – and had their efforts appreciated by a sympathetic travelling support at the end, with Lyttle likewise crediting the players for not capitulating in testing circumstances.

“It was important that didn’t happen,” he added. “That’s what we asked from the lads at half-time – show a bit of character, especially for fans who have come down and paid money to watch their team.

“The first-half wasn’t acceptable for us as a team or as a Club, but sometimes these things happen in a season and you’ve just got to lick your wounds and move on.”