A missed opportunity: Magilton

Jim Magilton said Cliftonville’s European exit to Auda feels like a “missed opportunity”.

Despite an encouraging start in the second leg of the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round tie in Latvia yesterday, the Reds conceded two second-half goals to bow out 4-1 on aggregate.

Ryan Curran, Shaun Leppard and Ruaidhri Donnelly all went close to cancelling out the hosts’ lead in the opening 45 minutes only for Abiodun Ogunniyi and Abdulrahman Taiwo – both of whom netted at Solitude in last week’s first leg – to see Auda safely through.

“In the first-half, we set up really well and tactically we were very conscious of their threat, especially on the counter attack but there were periods in the game when we were in control of things,” said Magilton.

“We just didn’t take the opportunity. I felt we started off brightly and on those occasions, you have to make that count and score, it gives you encouragement and may cast a little bit of doubt for them.

“At half-time, we reinforced the positives and talked about better quality on the ball as well as instilling more belief in what we are good at. We set up the team to get the ball back, as we have always done but it’s about having the belief to keep it without being intimidated either by the opposition or the nature of the game.

“Then we didn’t give ourselves a chance. In the second-half, both goals are poor and against any opposition if you concede poor goals, you are in trouble. It was the same in the first game, all four goals are poor from our point of view.”

Though he acknowledged that Auda are much further into their season, Magilton was reluctant to seek out excuses for Cliftonville’s defeat.

“Over the two legs, I don’t feel like we showed the quality that I know we have in the squad,” he added.

“Our opposition are obviously that bit sharper and, yes, it was a very hot day which made it more difficult for our players but even if you take all of that away, I still don’t think we really did ourselves justice and it feels like a missed opportunity for us.

“We didn’t do enough over the two legs and the disappointing this is I think we all know we’re better than what we showed.”