Cliftonville FC manager Magilton criticises first-half display in Larne loss

Cliftonville FC manager Jim Magilton delivered a frank assessment of his team's performance after a 2-0 defeat away to Larne. The Reds were undone by two first-half goals from Matthew Lusty at Inver Park on Tuesday night, a result that sees them remain fourth in the Premiership with 12 points from seven games.

Magilton did not mince words about the opening 45 minutes, which effectively decided the contest. "In the first-half, we got dominated and turned the ball over so often, especially early on in the game, and, in all honesty, Larne didn’t have to work particularly hard for their goals," he said. The manager acknowledged tactical changes at the break gave his side more impetus, but the damage was already done.

Second-half pride

With the game effectively over, Cliftonville's second-half display was about restoring some pride. Magilton said the team had to throw caution to the wind, which led to a more assertive performance but also left them vulnerable to counter-attacks. "These are the games where you test yourself and that’s two out of two where we actually haven’t showed up," he added, referencing the previous poor display at Windsor Park.

The loss follows a pattern of inconsistency, with the team's recent form reading two wins and three losses from their last five outings. They now sit seven points behind league leaders Coleraine. Fans can review the full sequence of results, including the 3-1 win over Carrick Rangers and the 0-2 loss to Dungannon Swifts, on the club's fixtures page. The challenge does not get easier, with a key away trip to second-placed Linfield scheduled for 19 December, a fixture detailed in the upcoming schedule.

Cliftonville have scored 11 goals this season while conceding eight, but Magilton will demand a sharper start in the big games ahead.

First reported at Cliftonville Football Club