JBE League Cup final: Cliftonville v Ards (Saturday, Solitude, 5.30pm)
SINCE Gerard Lyttle assumed the Cliftonville reins, he’s made a few subtle changes to how things are done at Solitude.
One thing he's introduced has been the use of GPS. Guess who's top of the 'distance covered' charts? Cliftonville regulars won't be surprised by the name: James Knowles. Not just most weeks - every week.
Under heavy prompting, Knowles reveals the stats: "I would be pushing about 12km per game, so I'd be covering the most distance, according to the GPS," he says.
"It all depends on where you’re playing. You mightn't need to run as much in certain positions. Obviously, the full-backs clock up a lot of kilometres and the wingers as well. Chris Curran clocks high and so do players like Jay Donnelly. It’s not read into too much [after games]. It’s used more for training and Ricky [McCann], our sports science coach, would manage it."
The fact that Knowles covers more ground than anybody else in games tells its own tale about the central midfielder's evolution. He's become the team's worker-bee, the high-presser, but still retains his extensive passing range.
During his first spell at the Reds, Knowles could never quite dislodge resident midfielders Ryan Catney or Barry Johnston and had to content himself with a place on the Cliftonville bench. After stints with Linfield and Ards, Knowles has returned to Solitude a more all-round player.
The former Blackburn player was well aware of the perceived weaknesses in his game: “I’ve tweaked my game. I knew I had to be better at doing the dirty work if I am to play in a two-man midfield,” he says.
“Questions have been asked of me before: ‘Can he do that work in a two-man midfield? Or maybe he can only play in a three-man midfield'. I needed to work harder, put a few tackles in and get the ball back. I probably needed to add that to my game. It’s not all about ability and what you can do with the ball, it’s about when we don’t have the ball and trying to get it back.”
Surprisingly, the 22-year-old hesitates when he’s asked what spell at the Reds he’s enjoyed more: “It’s a difficult question but I’d say this one because I’m obviously in the team. I mean, the first year I was here I made 20 appearances, but they were mostly from the bench and I did quite well.
“But this year, I’m obviously playing a lot more. I am happy with my form, but I still feel I haven’t shown my top form; I don’t think I’ve shown what I can actually do. I think I can play a lot better. But obviously, if the team’s winning then I should be happy.”
Knowles was a bit-part player when the Reds won the league title in 2013, so Saturday night's League Cup final has more significance for him: “This is my first cup final, really,” Knowles says, “because in the first League Cup final that Cliftonville won I was an unused substitute. So this one is special because I know I’m a big part of the squad now and I’m possibly going to play a big role.
"I’m very excited. I just hope it goes well and that I carry my recent form into this final.”
Knowles adds: “I love playing under ‘Skin’. He’s shown a lot of faith in me. It was so hard to follow what ‘Bressy’ had done. But ‘Skin’ came in and made a few changes and, personally, I’ve loved it.
“I know we’ve had some criticism for our home form, drawing a few games, but we’ve only been beaten once [against Glentoran] in his time in charge. That’s a fantastic record and he took over the team at a difficult stage.”
Knowles knows Ards “will be in our faces” - but hopes the Reds can find their rhythm early on Saturday and “play with a freedom” to retain a trophy that feels like part of the Solitude furniture.
PATHS TO THE FINAL
Ards
Round two: Dergview 1 Ards 2; round three: Annagh United 0 Ards 2; quarter-final: Ards 2 Ballinamallard United 2 (Ards won on pens); semi-final: Ards 2 Coleraine 2 (Ards won on pens)
Cliftonville
Round two: Cliftonville 2 Dundela 1; round three: Dungannon Swifts 3 Cliftonville 3 (Cliftonville won on pens); quarter-final: Cliftonville 3 Glentoran 2; semi-final: Warrenpoint 0 Cliftonville 1 (aet)
BETTING BOX
Cliftonville 3/10
Ards 7/1
Draw 7/2
Cliftonville to win 1-0 11/2
Cliftonville to win 3-0 17/2
Ards to win 1-0 14/1
Ards to win 2-1 22/1
Game to finish scoreless 0-0 12/1
