Glentoran assistant manager Paddy McCourt admitted his half-time team-talk during their 2-2 Premiership draw with Cliftonville was simple – telling his side they could either sink or swim.

They were certainly thrown in at the deep end – the Glens trailed the Reds by two goals and were booed off by their frustrated supporters at a drizzly BetMcLean Oval.

It was strikes from teenage tearaways Thomas Lavery and Joe Sheridan that had the east Belfast boys on the ropes – although the home defence went missing on both occasions.

With manager Declan Devine laid up having picked up a virus, it was down to his trusty sidekick, former Northern Ireland international midfielder McCourt, to deliver the motivational speech in a bid to salvage the game.

placeholder image — Glentoran's James Singleton celebrates his goal. (Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press)

Having emerged from the sanctuary of the dressing room, Glentoran were a reformed team in the second half. In fact, the Reds hardly got out of their own half after the restart.

The Glens were rewarded with goals from David Fisher and the inspirational James Singleton, before creating several gilt-edged chances to go on and claim all three points.

However, the players were still given a rousing ovation from those same supporters as they made their way back to the dressing room at the finish.

“The second half of that game was probably the most chances we have created against any side in a long time,” said McCourt. “If we can reproduce the form we showed in the second half, we’ll give anyone a game.

“Declan picked up some kind of nasty virus. We couldn’t afford him to come up (to the game), it was too big a risk of some of the players picking up the bug.

“If two or three dropped out, we’d be in a bad place. He was disappointed to miss out, but hopefully, he’ll recover in a few days.

“I was delighted with the response the boys showed in the second half, they showed great determination, courage and character.”

It was the start of a hectic fixture schedule for Glentoran – they now face the three teams above them in the Premiership table this month – Larne, Coleraine and Linfield.

McCourt added: “It’s a big month for us, but as a player those are the game you want to play in; as a coaching staff those are the games you want to be involved in

“In my 18 months at the club, I’ve never known any easy games. The name of the (opposing) team changes every week, but they are all tough games.

“I can’t ever remember coming away from a game thinking ‘that was handy enough’.

“The games are coming thick and fast. We go to Larne next week, then we have Coleraine and then Windsor Park on Boxing Day. It must be enjoyed and relished.”

McCourt admitted he was thrilled with his team’s second half showing against the Reds.

He added: “We conceded two awful goals before half time – and I let them know it, they were unacceptable.

“Cliftonville didn’t have to work for them...we fell asleep on both occasions. We talked at half-time and made a few wee tweaks.

“It could have been easy for heads to drop, but that didn’t happen. Instead, they rolled up their sleeves and showed a great hunger to repair the damage.

“Thankfully, it worked. Our supporters really got behind the team in the second half and that helped breathe new life into the side.”