A job well Dun

Jim Magilton was pleased with how his players stood up to the task in yesterday’s defeat of Dungannon Swifts at Solitude.

Cliftonville signed off from their home commitments in the Sports Direct Premiership with a 1-0 victory courtesy of a clever finish from Ryan Curran in the second-half to ensure both a return to winning ways and the rubberstamping of fifth place in the table.

“I thought it was a really competitive game,” said Magilton.

“Dungannon started really well, as they do. They tend to come here and enjoy playing here but once we got to grips with it, I thought we finished the first-half pretty well and their goalkeeper had to make a couple of really good saves.

“Half-time was just about re-emphasising the positives of our play and the goal was something that we’d worked on during the week. It was about our choice of pass, decision making and the finish. It was a really well-worked goal and we were delighted with that.

“We had one or two other opportunities, they probably had one or two as well, but I just thought it was a really good performance from us.

“It was a good win for the players’ confidence and one that I think we deserved because we played well.”

Having shipped six goals against Coleraine in their last outing, yesterday’s clean sheet was the Reds’ first shutout in eight games, with Magilton reflecting positively on the team’s response to that heavy loss to the Bannsiders.

“This game is a test of character, it always is,” he added.

“It asks questions of you all the time and they stood up today and did really well putting bodies on the line, a few terrific last-ditch challenges and I thought our goalkeeper was really brave in terms of coming out for crosses – all the things that probably would have helped us last week.

“It was certainly a lesson learned last week and they took it on board and came out and stood up.”