Glentoran players should take 'huge confidence' from clinical second half performance at Cliftonville, says Declan Devine

After a goalless first half in north Belfast, Devine’s boys showed their ruthless streak after the break as Pat Hoban and Jordan Stewart both netted twice to earn a critical three points in the title race.

Glentoran continue their assault on three different fronts as they are now eight points behind leaders Larne – but crucially with two games in hand.

Devine’s men had lost out to rivals Linfield last time out and he told Glentoran TV after the 4-0 win: “I'm delighted because we asked for a response. We were all hurting on Saturday and we knew we probably weren't at the levels that we could be at.

"But as I said after the game I can't take anything away from this group of players because they worked so hard and we were all hurting when we came in over the weekend and preparing for this game.

“It’s a really tough venue and to come here and produce the performance, especially the second half. We asked at half-time to play with more freedom and more expression...I think we got that in buckets.

"I think the goalkeeper has made a couple of incredible saves and a couple cleared off the line.

"So all in all it's a good night, but the players should take huge confidence from it and understand that when we play to the levels we're capable of playing at, then we're good to go.”

Devine also paid special mention to his substitutes who helped provide an attacking spark, as well as highlighting the quality of those who failed to make it onto the pitch.

He added: “When you're able to bring Josh Daniels, Jordan Stewart, Liam Burt onto the pitch when the opposition are tiring and that's leaving people like Dylan Connolly, Jordan Jenkins, James Douglas, you know, real high level players sitting there today and that's hugely important for us moving forward that we can finish games as strong as we can start them.

"But look, it's three points...it was important that we got them tonight. Delighted for the players because, as I say, Monday morning when we were in it was a sore one.

"We've sold every seat in the away section out. Fans stayed behind us as usual and it was really important we sent them home happy tonight and as I said on Saturday, there’s a lot of football to be played yet and we just got to keep going game by game, day by day and keep continuing to try and get better.

“I think that's got to be the benchmark. I think we're capable of that and we know we are.

"I see it every day in training. We play with a wee bit of freedom and a bit of expression and take a handbrake off. As I said earlier, we're a good side, but look, we're not getting carried away.

"We've got a lot of work to do. We have to recover well now because it's a really important couple of weeks coming up.”