Professional performance, says Jim

Jim Magilton was pleased with Cliftonville’s management of yesterday’s victory over Dungannon Swifts at Solitude.

After what the boss described as a “cagey” first-half, the Reds stepped things up after the break and broke the deadlock when Jonny Addis’ flicked header crept past the despairing dive of visiting goalkeeper Declan Dunne, who was then beaten by a Jack Keaney free-kick.

While Eric McWoods, Joe Gormley and Conor Falls all came close to adding to Cliftonville’s tally in the second period, the means by which his side saw the game out was pleasing for Magilton.

“The first-half was cagey at times,” he said.

“I thought their system probably had more effect on the game than ours and it was just ‘believe in yourselves, go out and play, go out and enjoy it, pass the ball’ but play on the front foot and ask questions of them – and all the things that we feel we do naturally came to fruition in the second-half.

“We caused them problems early on and kept that impetus going, which was important. We get the goals, which is really important, and then I thought we did a really professional job.”

Praising his side for a third consecutive clean sheet in the Sports Direct Premiership, he added: “That’s the foundation for any good team that wants to be competitive.

“I still think there’s so much more to come from the group but today was a good day for us. Dungannon always come here and pose problems.”