CLIFTONVILLE boss Jim Magilton is anticipating a typical difficult encounter with Dungannon Swifts ahead of their meeting at the weekend.
The Swifts make the trip to Solitude on Saturday (3pm kick-off), looking to make it three wins from three, whilst the Reds are hoping to bounce back from Friday evening's defeat to Linfield, having won their opening two league outings.
For Magilton this week will involve trying to work out what went wrong in certain situations at Windsor Park, believing his side lacked a real cutting edge.
“It’s always a difficult game, they are a really good side and I respect Rod [Rodney McAree] and his players a great deal,” Magilton acknowledged.
“Our week will be based around working this one out, and asking serious questions about why.
“The game is the greatest teacher and I want to know why in certain situations that maybe we didn’t have the courage.
“That comes down to individuals too. Collectively as a team, I just thought we lacked a real cutting edge."
Reflecting on Friday evening's loss, Magilton felt his team posed more of a threat in the closing stages when they went from back to front and didn’t feel the belief was there.
“We build and we have a structure where we want to build, but ultimately it is putting the ball in the net,” he reflected.
“Ultimately, it is finding a way and you can do it many, many different ways. We have a set way of doing it, but actually when we went back to front late on we created more opportunities.
“It is not rocket science either. It comes down to intensity and a real desire, that's what it always comes down to and sussing out the game. We had some really good individual performances, but collectively as a team I had a sense that we didn’t really believe in what we were doing."
The Reds will be without Rhyss Campbell, Adebayo Fapetu and Lewis Ridd for a few weeks after the trio picked up injuries, with Magilton keen to add more quality to his squad before the summer window closes next week.
“It’s not a reflection on who plays there. If we want to be successful here we need players of quality,” Magilton added.
“Every manager is going through this. Last weekend we lost Rhyss Campbell, Bayo [Adebayo Fapetu], and Lewis Ridd for weeks. That is one weekend, and three bodies down.
“We’re still struggling. That is a board decision again. I will always look to bring good players in, the window closes in 10-11 days so we’re nearing the window closing.
“It is to help the players we have here. The quality that we have brought in has been very good, but we need more."
Following last Monday's EGM and the decision of the Cliftonville members to ratify the Toronto Investment Group's takeover of the club, Magilton hailed the decision as fantastic and was pleased with the Group's ambition going forward.
“The board has worked extremely hard, it’s a member's decision,” he said. “TIG have made great noises around the football club and what they want to do with the football club.
“That is fantastic. I’m here for it and trying to win football matches. While it is great news for everybody, it is not great news for me tonight in terms of how I dissect this game because I’m disappointed."
Cliftonville will face Dungannon Swifts on Saturday at 3pm at Solitude.
