Drive for five

As Cliftonville embark upon a run of five consecutive away games in the coming weeks, we’ll need the Red Army at their loudest and proudest throughout what promises to be a challenging spell.

After Wednesday’s rearranged Sports Direct Premiership fixture with Portadown at Shamrock Park – which was abandoned due to floodlight failure last month – Jim Magilton takes his side back to Mid Ulster for Saturday’s Clearer Water Irish Cup quarter-final mission against Loughgall.

A North Belfast Derby duel is then up next on March 10, with supporters reminded that tickets purchased for the fixture’s original December 9 date remain valid for use at Seaview.

Four days later, Cliftonville are off to Coleraine on League duty before bringing the curtain down on this particular run of travels when we go head-to-head with Glentoran at The Oval on Wednesday, March 18.

We appreciate that, as well as being a testing schedule for our players, the forthcoming programme shorn of home comforts is also financially demanding for our fans and we are hugely grateful for your continued backing on the road.