That was disheartening: Magilton

Jim Magilton acknowledged last night was a “disheartening” experience for Cliftonville.

While Brian Healy and Ryan Curran threatened for the Reds in the first-half, Glentoran had gone close through Daniel Amos and Pat Hoban before the second period began with Lewis Ridd making a fine stop to deny Ross Clarke.

The deadlock was broken just past the hour when Joe Toole’s foul on Aaron McEneff resulted in a penalty kick that Hoban converted, while Jordan Stewart’s close-range finish put the Glens firmly in control of proceedings.

Stewart curled home to make it 3-0 with a quarter of an hour remaining and Hoban blasted in a fourth in injury-time ahead of Rory Hale going close to registering a consolation with a strike that came back off the crossbar.

“I was disappointed with the way we played in the first-half,” reflected Magilton.

“We created a great chance with a great set-piece and good header from Ryan which, if he’s able to put it anywhere other than there, it’s a goal and we’d have been fortunate to go in 1-0 up at half-time. I think we were probably fortunate to go in at 0-0.

“We kept giving the ball away and what was more disappointing for me is that we’d too many people who didn’t want to actually get on the ball and that was a worry given what happened on Saturday.

“Obviously we’re missing two important players. Josh (Kelly) can’t play and we miss Harry Wilson, who had an outstanding game at the weekend and we don’t know how long until he’s going to be back. That kind of rejigs things but it gives other people an opportunity. We picked a very attack-minded team but we were careless.

“We were poor with the ball and when you’re poor with the ball against good players, they sense that and they go more aggressive, more physical and that’s what Glentoran did in the second-half. Once they scored the first goal,  they smelt blood, went for the jugular and capitalised and punished us.

“It was a disheartening night. I gave them a bit of a rollicking at half-time and it didn’t work. For the second-half, we were totally outplayed.”

While the Manager took responsibility for the result, he admitted to disappointment with how his team set about their task on an individual level.

“What upset me the most was watching players not take the ball and not be brave enough to take the ball,” he added. “That was disheartening.

“Players have to be responsible when they cross the white line but obviously, collectively, I stand here as a figurehead, I’m the Manager of the football club saying that was not an acceptable performance.

“Nobody takes these performances worse than me. I’ve been in the game long enough and I’ve always felt the same way, especially when I haven’t played well as a player. And if my team hasn’t played well when I’m the Manager, that’s my fault. I take full responsibility for it.”