Level best for Magilton

Jim Magilton underlined the importance of Cliftonville maintaining intensity levels after his side brought the curtain down on their home commitments with a 2-0 victory over Glenavon yesterday.

Second-half goals from Ryan Curran and Eric McWoods banked the Reds’ fifth consecutive win following a half-time discussion about the need to inject greater vigour into their performance.

“In the first-half, each team nullified the other’s threats,” said Magilton.

“We talked at half-time about raising intensity and raising our levels because we’ve still got so much to play for. Cup Final places are up for grabs and we still have to secure seventh.

“It’s important, of course, that we won and it’s another clean sheet, but we certainly have to be better than that, too.”

Having left Joe Gormley on the bench and reduced both Rory Hale and Jonny Addis to substitute roles in the final quarter of the game, Magilton revealed he is working closely with the backroom team to manage his squad over the closing weeks of the Sports Direct Premiership season.

“Players are going to play with niggles and slight strains here and there and we’re guided by our medical team on that,” he explained.

“Odhran Casey got a good 60 or 70 minutes and it was always the intention to bring him off, and Coran Madden got more minutes and showed what he’s all about. We’ve also left players out who have done well and they’re chomping at the bit, too.”