POST-MATCH VIEW: 'We'd already thought one move ahead' - Portadown celebrate back-to-back wins as decisions make the derby difference
Portadown followed up success at Shamrock Park last weekend over league leaders Larne with a 1-0 derby defeat of Dungannon Swifts off Baris Altintop’s header from a corner-kick.
Here’s the post-match verdict of Portadown coach Nicky Maye:
TWO WINS IN A ROW...
"Back-to-back wins change everything in this league.
"We were down at ninth at one stage and then you can just shoot up.
"We spoke about it building up to this week...you can't go and beat Larne and leave it at that.
"The Gaffer delivered an excellent team talk at half-time.
"Delighted as well we got the goal from a set-play, which we worked on.
"I'm going to give Steven Hyndes the credit for that...I do the defensive set-pieces, he does the attacking."
JOSH UKEK EARLY EXIT...
"We knew he had a wee niggle...he'd done the warm-up and looked really, really good.
"He said he was fine and I think straight away it was the first minute he had an unbelievable chance when he ran through and did really, really well.
"The last two or three weeks he's been brilliant and really changed the dynamics of the team that way.
"We wanted him on the pitch...he got the niggle and then we didn't want to risk more.
"We'd already talked and we'd already thought of our Plan B if something had to happen, what we were going to do.
"We were able to make the change quick and I thought James (Teelan), when he came, on was excellent, looked really sharp.
"We'd already thought one move ahead, just in case.
"We wanted to get Josh on the pitch because he has been a breath of fresh air, running with the ball he gives you that real outlet.
"Eamon (Fyfe) going wide the work-rate and the running off the channels, has been really good."
COLLECTIVE GAINS...
"We've lost our captain (Gary Thompson) and our vice-captain (Aaron McCarey) so to have someone like Josh (Carson) on the pitch...in those 10 or 15 minutes he set the tone.
"When you miss leaders, you need other leaders.
"I think that's helped some of the young boys.
"Coming into the new year, the main theme has been work-rate, on and off the ball.
"It was not the greatest game there today but I think sometimes 1-0 for a coach or a manager is a result you savour more.
"We've probably worked them really hard as well and the games have piled up...a lot of credit to the players, the way they've dug deep.
"Coleraine away (2-1 loss in the final seconds) I think was a changing point, really.
"Even though we lost and in bad circumstances, I think that galvanised them to come back next week and say, you know what, we can go and do it.
"It is collectively a very, very good group...they're willing to learn and they're willing to work, I think that's showed in the last few weeks as well."