Rodney McAree points to Dungannon Swifts statistic which 'isn't good enough' as he calls for improvements
Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree has demanded a response from his side after a 6-0 defeat to Linfield when they host Cliftonville on Friday night – and highlighted one aspect which “isn’t good enough”.
The Swifts remain on track for a second consecutive top-half Premiership finish with six matches left to play before the split, but they’ve now lost three league games on the trot, conceding 13 goals in the process.
Their 5-1 defeat away to Carrick Rangers was followed up by a 2-0 home loss against Glentoran before leaking another six at Windsor Park on Tuesday as Linfield responded in fine fashion to an Irish Cup exit.
Dungannon have conceded the most goals (47) of any team currently inside the Premiership’s top-half with bottom two Glenavon and Crusaders (both 54) the only sides to have leaked more across the entire top-flight.
Most of Dungannon’s damage has come away from home – they’ve conceded 30 times in 14 matches on their travels with only Glenavon, who remain without a point, letting in more (34).
With four of their next five fixtures at Stangmore Park, McAree has called for improvements as his side look to cement their position.
"Our goal difference isn't good enough, the goals against column isn't good enough either,” he told the club’s media channel. “It needs to improve, and if it doesn't then we're not going to improve.
"It's up to us collectively, everybody in the changing room, to do better in that department and cut down on the chances and goals we're conceding and give ourselves more opportunities to get results.
"Cliftonville are close behind us and they'll want to close the gap. David Healy came away from Limavady looking a response from his team and we'll be looking the same.
"We have to get a response from ourselves too, we have to get it right also, and collectively we win and lose together. We look forward to Friday and meeting the challenge head on."
With three fixtures in a week – which started by sealing Irish Cup progression past Portadown last Saturday – McAree has had to make big calls in terms of squad selection.
Gael Bigirimana, Danny Wallace and Sean McAllister all started their heavy midweek defeat to Linfield on the bench, but McAree insists he has the depth to compete across fronts.
"There's a lot of tired bodies and aches and pains in the dressing room which we are fearful of, to be honest,” he added. “When we had games Saturday, Tuesday and Friday, certain personnel were never going to be able to play in all three so it was a case of managing them as best we can.
"I believe we have an extremely strong squad in depth...it didn't materialise against Linfield.”
Cliftonville are coming off Tuesday’s 3-1 league victory over Bangor, which ended a six-game winless Premiership run and keeps their chances of a top-half finish alive.
Jim Magilton’s men have played three fewer matches than fifth-placed Dungannon and Carrick Rangers, who occupy sixth spot, at this stage in the race for a European play-off position.