Jim lauds attention to detail

Jim Magilton felt Cliftonville produced arguably their best performance of the season in overcoming Coleraine in yesterday’s Sports Direct Premiership encounter at Solitude.

Rory Hale’s goal in the closing minutes of the first-half was enough to earn all three points and stretch the Reds’ unbeaten run to six games alongside a run of four consecutive clean sheets in the League.

Noting that his side also had to dig in defensively, Magilton declared himself delighted with every aspect of the display.

“It’s up there with one of our best performances,” he said.

“I thought from minute one through to minute 96, our attention to detail, our focus and our determination without the ball was so great and they all deserve credit for that.

“They’ve worked so hard and five or six weeks ago, we talked about getting back to basics and keeping clean sheets, so we’re building on that momentum.

“I’m delighted. I’m so happy for the players but it’s just one game and we need to build on momentum, but the confidence that should give them is huge and belief should be growing because we believe in them. We’ve never lost that belief in them, so hopefully they can kick on.”

Ahead at the interval, Cliftonville almost doubled their advantage through Hale early in the second-half, while Ryan Curran and Jack Keaney both threatened ahead of Hale going close again.

Joe Gormley also had an opportunity to make it 2-0 late in the day and, though his side were unable to add to their tally, Magilton was more than content with the goal that settled the issue.

“You won’t see a better goal this weekend,” he said after Hale started and finished a move that also carried contributions from Jonny Addism Curran, Joe Sheridan and Keevan Hawthorne.

“When you look at where it started, how it was finished and the composure that was shown, it’s a great goal and shows a side to our game that we have.”