BetMcLean League Cup second round
CLIFTONVILLE boss Barry Gray says seeing out games has been a “bit of a problem” for his side – but insists the Reds are edging closer to their potential.
The north Belfast men have conceded late goals to Dungannon Swifts, Linfield, Coleraine and Warrenpoint Town and they went down to a late strike from Crusaders striker Jordan Owens in last Friday night’s derby clash.
“Results like Friday night probably hit you harder than most because we should have taken something from the Crusaders game,” said Gray.
“It was a wee bit like the Warrenpoint game. Seeing out games seems to be a bit of a problem for us at the minute… but the whole frustration is that we’re probably closer than we’ve ever been in terms of where we need to get to. But the closer you get, the more frustrated you become.
“It might come with one or two tweaks or a couple of new signings in January, or maybe for just a few boys to hit form.”
Cliftonville host Carrick Rangers tonight in the second round of the League Cup, with the manager hoping to give a few players some much-needed game-time without diluting his starting line-up too much.
Since that morale-sapping loss to Warrenpoint Town in mid-September, Gray has been encouraged by the “quiet resilience” the players have shown, notching back-to-back league win sover Ballymena United and Ards.
“[Last month] was a fairly rough time, certainly for me as a manager, but from that it’s been a case of getting our heads down and showing what we’re good at.
“Another two or three per cent would probably be the difference in winning three or four of those games.
“But, at the same time we can’t pat ourselves on the back for being that close because the table suggests we were better off this time last year.
“It’s the small detail that we need to focus on and trying to get the players up by another two or three per cent.
“Can players chip in with a few goals and take the pressure off Joe Gormley? Do we have to score two or three a week to win a game? Can our back line be tighter? It’s all those things.”
Carrick have made an inauspicious start to their Championship campaign, sitting mid-table after nine games and conceding more than they’re scoring.
While the Reds should negotiate their passage into the next round of the League Cup, Gray doesn’t want to make too many changes.
“We need to win the game, we want to keep the team as strong as we can but it’s also an opportunity for a few boys to get a bit of game-time under their belts.”
On the pressure of managing Cliftonville, the former Warrenpoint Town boss is loving the challenge at Solitude, having reached an Irish Cup final and returning the club to the European stage.
“Everybody expects you to win and do it convincingly, but that’s a positive thing.”
Meanwhile, Crusaders host Ballinamallard United as the champions seek to rebuild from a poor start to the campaign. H&W Welders will hope to pull off a giant-killing act at Ballymena United, Warrenpoint Town host Dungannon Swifts and Ards take on Dergview.
Newry City’s home game with Portadown has been postponed due to Declan Dunne being called up to Northern Ireland’s U21s and that cup clash will now be played on October 30 alongside Glentoran versus Coleraine and Linfield versus Institute.
