Wound up

Jim Magilton has rallied his “walking wounded” players to go again as they prepare for tonight’s Sports Direct Premiership encounter with Glentoran.

A fifth consecutive away match in an 18-day period sees Cliftonville travel to The Oval to contest a game originally postponed on January 25, with Magilton expecting his squad to be nursing some bumps and bruises from their weekend trek to Coleraine.

“All Managers want a full squad to choose from but that’s not really the case for anybody at this time of the season,” he said.

“It’s a tough schedule that’s been very demanding on us and we’ve lost a couple of players here and there, but we’ve also been able to welcome a few back over the last couple of weeks.

“We lost Adebayo Fapetu and Joe Gormley after the Crusaders match and there’s a few walking wounded after the Coleraine game, but we’ll get on with it. I always say that if someone misses out for whatever reason, it presents an opportunity to someone else and there are boys in there who are chomping at the bit to be given that chance, which is great to see.”

Given the nature of the Reds’ recent programme, the Manager admitted that his men haven’t been undertaking traditional training sessions as he and his backroom team bid to keep them ticking over for the various challenges they’ve faced.

“We just have to nurse the players through times like this and it’s not something you’ll hear me moaning about,” added Magilton, whose side have guaranteed themselves a contingency place in the end-of-season European Play-Offs.

“The players have been outstanding and they’ve given it everything and now we need to get back at it again against Glentoran.

“We want to build on what we have been doing and we know we’ll face another very big test but, like all other games, we look forward to it.

“It’s another tough one, we’ve had two very difficult games at The Oval already this season and obviously only played the Glens a few weeks ago, but we’ll go there and present ourselves in the best manner we can and try to play our game.”

Glentoran v Cliftonville
Wednesday, March 18, 2026 (7.45pm)
Adults: £15
Concessions: £10
Tickets: General Sale
Tickets purchased for January 25 fixture valid for use