Cliftonville: We must back up Crues win with another good performance - Barry Gray

The Reds boss was grinning from ear to ear after they put the league leaders to the sword in 3-1 win at Solitude.

“Winning the game was pleasing but what was even more pleasing was the performance because it was miles and miles above anyting we’ve seen in recent months, possibly even this season so far,” said Gray.

“Nobody doubts that we can deliver, our big challenge now – and the players know this, I know this and the management team know it – is about delivering it consistently.

“The next target is to back up a good performance with another good performance and another good result.

“The players know they’re good enough to play and I know they are as well. Performances of late haven’t backed that up for any of us, but that performance and result will give everyone a hundred times more belief than I ever will verbally or they ever will verbally. Doing is believing.

“We said before the game, ‘Go and show yourselves, go and show us. Forget about showing anyone else, show how good we are, bring confidence and be brave on the ball’ – and the way we started was probably the best start to a game we’ve had this season.

“There’s no difference in legs, no difference in bodies and no difference generally in personnel – but there’s a difference in mindset.”