‘Foundations’ part of pragmatic Portadown approach for Matthew Tipton

Tipton is drawing confidence from a first clean sheet of a campaign which marks the club’s return to top-flight football after three years.

Tipton also considers the 0-0 draw against Ballymena United on Saturday as evidence of a more pragmatic approach for a side aiming to consolidate across a first season back on the main stage.

”A few years ago in the closing stages of Saturday with the game at 0-0 I would have gone to three up front...and lost 1-0,” said Tipton. “I’m happy (after Saturday), especially with the clean sheet.

“We understand the foundations are built from the back and a clean sheet gives you the opportunity to do something.

“We’ve come off two hammerings so it was a case of take what we’ve got then try to improve from one point to three.  

“The decision behind Nathan Kerr coming on was we felt it was a game for his energy and legs the way Ballymena play rather than a player coming on to keep their foot on it.

“We all want to win but I thought the two centre-forwards (Lee Bonis and Adam Salley) were still offering a threat with the power and pace and I’ll back them against anybody if we get that one ball behind.

”Chris Lavery was superb, with Adam’s hold-up play really good and Lee’s hold-up play getting better.

“I’m always looking for new players and the chance to bring in someone better, that’s football.

“But when I look at centre-forwards and what I want I see everything in Adam.”

Tipton handed Kevin Healy a debut against Ballymena following the former West Bromwich Albion defender’s arrival at Portadown as a free agent.

He then had to reshuffle his backline due to injury to Paddy McNally which left the defender on a stretcher and Adam McCallum introduced as a substitute.   

“We’ve an average age of 20 and today had Kevin making his debut in what was a first senior game of football after previously only playing under 23s in England,” said Tipton. “Adam came on and was superb.

“I underestimate Adam...I seem to come out every time he plays and say how Adam was super and my best defender.

“Adam was unlucky not to start today, it was toss-up all week for me.

“Last year he was unlucky as he came back into the team but then was injured.

“I stuck with Paul Finnegan and Paddy as we were a super back four last year that got us promoted so this season they came in with that credit in the bank.

“We don’t know Paddy’s circumstances yet and won’t make any snap judgements so need to see how it settles down in a day or two.

“But anyone going off on a stretcher is never good.

“We came in today off two heavy defeats so now we’ve stopped that but want to build on it.

“I felt we looked solid across the game, I don’t think they cut us open.

“Now we have to improve on that for Tuesday and moving forward.”

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