Lyttle: Seize the momentum

Gerard Lyttle has stressed the importance of Cliftonville backing up Tuesday’s comeback win over Carrick Rangers by pocketing full points from tomorrow’s encounter with Ballymena United.

Goals from Luke Conlan, Eric McWoods and Joe Gormley saw the Reds recover a 1-0 deficit at Taylors Avenue in midweek and, ahead of a fifth meeting of the campaign with a Sky Blues side that has won all four previous encounters, Lyttle has stressed the need for the entire squad to be ready play their part.

“We’re in a very iimportant stage of the season and we want to build up some momentum,” he said.

“We spoke about the importance of momentum, staying at it, training hard, managing and being smart and I think we did that against Carrick.

“You saw with the starting line-up, we took Joe and Rory (Hale) out and one or two others that we didn’t want to risk.

“That’s no discredit to the boys that went on and played because I thought we were excellent. It’s not easy with some players not having the amount of minutes in their legs. I thought Micheál Glynn came in and done really well, and young Stephen McGuinness came on at half-time – it’s not easy for him and, again, he’s been a player that has had to be very patient.

“He’s come on and he was excellent. It’s about a squad and making sure that we all stick together and that’s what we’ve done.

“We’ve a really good group of players and a tight changing room, and that stands by you, especially at this stage of the season.”

Cliftonville v Ballymena United
Saturday, April 5 (3pm)
Adults: £15
Concessions: £10
Tickets: General Sale
Members Tickets and Season Tickets valid