Dungannon Swifts boss Rodney McAree is hoping an approach that “hurts a little bit more” can help improve results and returns.

The Swifts head to Linfield this afternoon with only the top-flight’s bottom two sides on fewer points but also just one behind sixth-place Ballymena United.

In pursuit of forward progress, McAree delivered a frank response to last weekend’s 3-1 loss at home to Cliftonville by highlighting ways in which his players can get back on track.

“Everything I do, everything I'll try to do and the staff will try to do, will be for Dungannon Swifts Football Club,” said McAree on the official club social media platforms. “Emotionally, it hurts...we have to make sure that the changing room hurts a little bit more emotionally and also hurts a little bit more physically.

placeholder image — Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree after the loss to Cliftonville. (Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press)

"At this moment in time, I don't believe we're maybe getting as much as what we should.

"That comes through results as well, I understand that but we just need to be doing more collectively across the board at this moment in time.

"We've got to show a bit more desire to actually go and get on the end of things and really force it over the line and get ourselves back involved.

"We're certainly going to have to work harder, we have to regroup.

"I don't think you could go to a tougher place...I'm happy and glad that it is the next place that we're going to because everybody around the club and players within the changing room will understand that it's going to be a very, very difficult game.

"If we continue to concede chances that we have...we could be really up against it.

"We're just not delivering at this moment in time and that has to improve.”

McAree reflected on conceding two quickfire first-half goals inside a number of minutes across the 3-1 loss to Cliftonville as key to current issues.

"In the space of two-and-a-half minutes, we put ourselves under pressure,” said McAree on the period 1-0 to 2-0 down. “We should have been playing in the opposition's half...get the ball up the pitch, take a little bit of pressure off us, see out the next five minutes.

“But we conceded a second...that's the most frustrating thing because you give yourself a mountain to climb.”