Shea eager to avoid false don

Shea Gordon says the prospect of bringing a live European tie back to Solitude should be all the motivation Cliftonville need for this evening’s UEFA Conference League clash with St Joseph’s.

After tackling the Gibraltarian outfit at Europa Point Stadium later today, the Reds will have home advantage for next Thursday’s second leg – and Gordon is determined to ensure that he and his team-mates are in a healthy position when that game comes around.

“Some people see it as a positive to be at home first and others prefer to be away first,” he explains.

“For me, I think getting yourself a good result away from home and setting it up for the second leg is the way you want to go about things. I remember when I played for Larne, we went out to Finland and did really well against HJK and that meant we were able to have a real go at them in the home leg – which was actually played at Solitude.

“In a situation like this, it’s about going into the away leg and making sure you get a result that puts you in with a chance in front of your home fans in the second game.”

Another of Gordon’s European experiences with Larne was a Conference League defeat to St Joseph’s back in 2022.

On that occasion, the Invermen registered a goalless draw in Gibraltar only to suffer a 1-0 loss back on home soil the following week – a memory which makes the midfielder wary of the threat Cliftonville will face from The Saints today.

“They were tough games and I know it’s been a few years since then, but we would obviously expect something similar in terms of what we’ll be up against,” adds the midfielder.

“That was actually an example of where a team has gone away from home and got a good result in the first leg but been unable to make full advantage of that, so I’m hoping to avoid a repeat of that this time. I’m confident we can do well but I also know we have to perform to our best. We definitely have the ability, it’s just a case of making sure it all clicks for us.”

St Joseph’s v Cliftonville
UEFA Conference League first qualifying round, first leg (5pm; 6pm local time)
Tickets: Sold out
Live stream: Available here