‘Brave’ Dungannon Swifts display confirms positives for Kris Lindsay

On an afternoon of few clear sights of goal, Lindsay left Lurgan with the satisfaction of a first point of the Danske Bank Premiership campaign following back-to-back defeats - but a sense of frustration at a missed opportunity for a greater return on what he considered such a positive Swifts performance.

“I’m happy with the point, if not slightly disappointed with a couple of opportunities late on when with better decisions we could have maybe tested Jonny Tuffey,” said Lindsay, who left a coaching role with Glenavon in September 2018 to join Dungannon for a first taste of management. “But overall I felt we played some nice football at times, the overall performance was pleasing and we looked solid.

“We limited Glenavon’s attacking threat and won that battle in dealing with balls into the box.

“There are always areas you can improve on but we tried to play, were brave on the ball and now have that first point on the board.”

The Swifts made the short trip to Mourneview Park aiming to recover from defeats of, respectively, 3-0 and 2-0 to Larne and Warrenpoint Town across the season’s opening league games.

“Over the first two games, we did okay at Larne - Larne is Larne - then met a goalkeeper inspired against Warrenpoint and had chances cleared off the line,” said Lindsay. “So there were lots of positives to take and we built on that today.

“We’ve got to concentrate on ourselves.

“We changed the system for the game and I felt it worked as it allowed us to get on the ball and play.

“The changes to the system gave us a little bit more protection in front of the back four but more so to be brave and play.

“We’ve not yet scored but will not get too downhearted as it would be worse if not creating but we are, so the goals will come.

“Getting something from any away ground is always pleasing and now we are off zero points.”

One major talking point arrived in the second half with a Glenavon penalty shout waved away by referee Steven Gregg when Danny Purkis raced into the box, took the ball past Sam Johnston and appeared to go down under the Swifts goalkeeper’s challenge.

Lindsay, from his vantage point on the sidelines, understood Glenavon’s frustration but also accepted the decision of the match official.

“From where I was, I can see why Glenavon were aggrieved but the referee is 10 yards away from it, we are 40 or 50 and he obviously doesn’t think it’s a penalty and he’s the one that counts,” said Lindsay. “Speaking to Sam (Johnston), he says it was more a case of Danny Purkis connecting with him than he connecting with Purkis, so if that’s the case then it’s the right decision.”

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