Loaded questions

Jim Magilton says Cliftonville must answer the questions that Portadown will pose during tomorrow’s Boyle Sports Premiership encounter at Solitude.

Though the Reds bounced back from recent defeats by getting the better of Knockbreda on County Antrim Shield duty in midweek, the Ports report to north Belfast on the back of Mid-Ulster Cup elimination at the hands of derby foes Glenavon, following on from losses in all four of their League games so far this season.

Magilton fully expects the visitors to be fired up to kickstart their campaign and says his own players must likewise demonstrate their hunger for the points from the first whistle.

“Portadown are going to come here, as every team does, and present themselves and put up a challenge,” he said.

“The one thing I commend players in this League for is that they dust themselves down very quickly and they approach a game in the same sort of positive attitude and they’re going to ask serious questions.

“We’ve got to be able to answer those and come out with what we’ve got.

“Our own attitude and approach to playing Knockbreda was exactly what I wanted and I was really pleased with the players for how they went about things in that game.

“We made a lot of changes, players stepped in and showed their desire and now we have to be ready to go again.

“Portadown will try to make it very difficult for us, there’s no doubt about that, and we’ve got to come up with the answers against a team who will be so, so hungry to get themselves that win.”

Cliftonville v Portadown
Saturday, September 5
Adults: £15
Concessions: £10
Tickets: General Sale
Members Tickets and Season Tickets valid