'We will relish cup challenge' - McFall
PORTADOWN boss Ronnie McFall believes his players won't need any added incentive when they step out against Cliftonville in the Co-Operative Insurance Cup on Tuesday.
The third round, first leg clash at Shamrock Park sees the Ports lock horns with Premiership opposition for the first time since their shock relegation to the IFA Championship following a well-documented administration gaffe.
A late licence application saw the mid-Ulster Reds fail to be included in the top flight, plummeting the club embarrassingly into the second tier of local football.
But tonight McFall's men will be keen to prove they are more than capable of mixing it with the big boys, with progress in the Co-Operative Insurance Cup the prime target.
"This is the kind of game we should be playing week in, week out. But unfortunately we are not," McFall said.
"But we will look forward to the Cliftonville double-header.
"My players won't need any added drive for this one, and it will give them a chance to prove what they are capable of. Cliftonville are a good side with plenty of quality, so it will be a difficult test.
"They are already in a cup final so they will want to progress in this competition as well.
"But we also want to go as far as possible. The bread and butter is the league, but we also have big ambitions in the two cup competitions we are in."
Reflecting on Portadown's collapse into the IFA Championship, McFall admits it has been a "culture shock".
"It has been a new experience. It is difficult when you sometimes don't even have a game on a Saturday. We haven't been able to build any momentum which is frustrating," he said.
"But we will be raring to go on Tuesday night against Cliftonville. There is no doubt, in a football sense, that we should be in the top division. So promotion is our main aim this season."
Portadown will welcome fans into the new MET Steel Stand for the first time this evening, adding to what should be a decent atmosphere for the cup encounter.
On the playing side McFall is without Richard Clarke (patella tendon), Kevin Braniff (hamstring), Jordan Baker, Ross Redman and Richard Leckey (all flu) and goalkeeper Neil Armstrong, who is recovering from a horrific knife attack in September.
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 9 C
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Temperature: 5 C to 10 C
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