Four-game slump but Portadown still 'winners' heading into derby date with Loughgall

​Back-to-back reverse results at Glenavon inside four days capped a BetMcLean Cup exit to second-tier Ards and home loss against Ballymena United to turn a dream start by the newly-promoted Ports into the harsh reality of life juggling top-level tests.

"The mood in the camp is always positive, 100 percent and we're open and honest with players," said assistant manager Adams. "When you sit down and look at it, if people had offered us the points we have from the games played everybody would bite your hand off for it.

"We knew there would be runs like this, we're a promoted team and our priority is to stay in the division first and foremost as we're trying to build this massive club back up.

"If you look at any defeats, they're tight games and tight scorelines.

"Over the last couple of weeks is the first time since the start of the season we've been hit with any real injury issues.

"We've lost big players and have other injuries going on...although that’s all part of football, so you hope other guys come in and take their opportunities.”

Adams highlights the constant in-house assessment process as part of attempts to get back on track.

"We still have a massive faith in everybody,” he said. "Sometimes with a couple of defeats then doubts can creep in but, with the calibre of players we have, they're winners.

"We've chopped and changed a wee bit just to try and see if we can get that flow again to the team. It's a new squad put together and you start to get that consistency then hit by injuries...but it's one of those things.

"We always evaluate what we do from week to week. When you are light in numbers then playing Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday your Thursday workload has to be adjusted."

Adams is also eager for this evening’s late kick-off against Loughgall to showcase the club fanbase.

"The support at Portadown has been amazing, off the chart and the fans probably don't even realise how much of a positive impact they have in lifting the players,” he said. "It's a derby and Loughgall are also fighting for their lives.”