MANAGER'S VIEW: 'I didn't see him complaining about the pitch second half' - Jim Magilton delight as Cliftonville fight back
Cliftonville battled back from Jordan Gibson’s first-half Portadown goal to net three times after the interval off Joe Sheridan, Ryan Curran penalty and Jack Keaney header before Rhys Annett cut the gap in a 3-2 reverse over added time.
Here’s the post-match verdict of Cliftonville boss Jim Magilton:
OVERALL PERFORMANCE...
"First half was pretty even-steven - until we've created a wonderful opportunity off great play, a fantastic cross and fantastic header (that hits the post).
"Ryan (Curran) will be very disappointed he hasn't scored and then, as discussed pre-game about Portadown’s pace in transition, we got caught out (Jordan Gibson goal).
"Potentially on another day it's a foul on Harry (Wilson).
"One of their strengths is the counter-attack.
"We're thinking we're going to score and then Portadown do that really well, you have to give Niall (Currie, Portadown manager) and his players credit...they transition very quickly.
"I thought the first 45 minutes we were probably a little bit lethargic from Tuesday night (v Ballymena United)...physically, it was a demanding pitch, Portadown is another demanding pitch.
"But we don't deal in excuses here and the players don't.
"So they regroup, we rallied the troops and second half we were really good...really, really good for an away team coming here, a difficult place.
"I think half-time was important for us...reaffirming all the positives that have put us in this position and this momentum that we're in at the minute.
"Again, that comes down to the players and how they apply themselves and their attitude...the work ethic is tremendous."
HALF-TIME TALK…
"We go in at half-time, we regroup, we talk about just increasing the quality.
"Second half we control things a lot more, the flow of the game and I think we ran out deserving winners.
"I think it was a case of get in at half-time...we've had a look at them and everything we spoke about happened (in the first half).
"But we spoke about how we've got more gears and we need to go through those gears now, we need the energy to really get up with play and show that courage.
"And that comes down to the players who've been in this run...simply magnificent.”
JOE SHERIDAN’S EQUALISER…
"Joe Sheridan's goal is wonderful, absolutely wonderful.
"It's a wonderfully composed goal...great to get us back into it.
“And then I thought we were in the ascendancy.
"Joe was complaining about the pitch first half...I didn't see him complaining about the pitch second half.
"It's a wonderfully composed goal and, for a midfield player like Joe, he's going to be judged on assists and goals.
"He knew what he was doing, he was in control of the whole situation.
"He dropped the shoulder a couple of times, moved the ball, it's a wonderful hit.
"It's actually the only place he could place it away from Aaron (McCarey, Portadown goalkeeper).
"He needs just to continue that rich vein of form."
FIVE-GAME UNBEATEN LEAGUE RUN…
"The game is the greatest teacher for us all.
"But you have to have players in the group that allow these young lads to go and play.
"These lads are trusting them with the ball and we trust them to go and play...so it's a two-way thing.
"I think that everybody has had an opportunity and when you get into a groove, it's always the first win and then you back it up.
"It's game by game, everyone talks about the cliches but the cliches are so important.
"It's one game at a time and if you can win a game, you build on it.
"Can you win the next? Can you win the next?
"So the game doesn't change.
"All of a sudden, it builds momentum, which is crucial in football.
"It gives players this unbelievable confidence to go out and play and to continue to play.
"And that's what we've got to do.
"It's belief and trust and confidence that you have the players that can go out and it's just reaffirming that every time we have them, every session, there's no let-up.”