Out of control

Jim Magilton felt Cliftonville lost last night’s clash with Dungannon Swifts from a position of control.

After ending a difficult first-half by equalising through Joe Gormley, the Reds pulled in front courtesy of a fine solo strike from Brian Healy.

Slack defending paved the way for the Swifts to level matters before a last-gasp penalty kick earned the hosts all three points – much to Magilton’s obvious frustration.

“We’ve scored two fantastic goals,” he reflected.

“Joe’s is a great individual finish and Brian Healy’s is a wonderful strike, then we have another opportunity but the keeper makes a save.

“At 2-1, I think we’re in the ascendancy and had opportunities to go on and capitalise but we were still too loose and turned the ball over when it mattered most

“Then it’s just really poor after that – we concede a poor set-piece goal, then we’re all over the place in terms of a counter-attack and give away a penalty kick.

“At 2-1 up, I felt we were in control of things and I’ve asked the players if they felt the same way because they’re in the emotion of the game. I felt we were going to go on and win the game but if you cough up opportunities in the manner we’re coughing up opportunities, that is the result.

“The result here has gone against us and that’s down to us. As much as Dungannon are a quality side, I think we gave up those opportunities when it mattered most.”