Tactical shift ‘working well for us’ as Portadown clock up Irish League season first
Portadown’s ‘umbrella’ tactical approach left boss Niall Currie smiling on Saturday at a second successive Premiership win and, for the first time this season, back-to-back clean sheets.
James Teelan’s decisive finish proved the key moment on an afternoon that marked defeat on a return to Irish League management for Oran Kearney with Ballymena.
And Currie was quick to praise the contribution of Teelan – not only in front of goal but across the pitch – alongside his team-mates.
"The changing room's in a great place, it always has been,” said Currie. "Josh Ukek's now ready to start games, Shay McCartan's close to starting games, Ray Tulloch's probably only a month away now and we thought he was out for the season.
"So we've had a hell of a lot of positives lately...it's just a real good period we're in and full credit goes to the players.
"A great, honest bunch of boys, plus the atmosphere's fantastic."
Portadown preparations had to switch from attempts at predicting Kearney’s approach to putting full faith in in-house efforts.
"Really difficult because Oran has mixed it up using three at the back with a box, using conventional 3-5-2s, he's also had 4-3-3s and 4-2-3-1s,” said Currie. "But our whole coaching during the week, certainly on Thursday night, was just about our shape.
"Whenever we don't have the ball, being nice and narrow and compact...we've used this now for three or four games and it's working well for us.
"Wee 'Teelo' (Teelan) tucks in nicely from one side and Lee Chapman tucks in nicely and it gives us a wee basis to make sure we're not overrun in the middle of the park.
"And we send teams down the sides...I'm confident with Stevie McCullough and Big Divin (Isamala) or 'Chappers' (Chapman) that these guys can deal with one-on-one situations.
"We're totally focused on our shape without the ball, we've been really, really good and solid off the shape we're in at the minute.
"I call it the umbrella.
"Whenever we don't have the ball - nice and compact, put our two wingers in and load the space in the middle of the park, force teams down the sides.
"Then, when we have it, we're very good at expanding and, like the umbrella, opening to cause problems."
Teelan’s goal proved his value as “a match-winner” for Currie.
"I just think he's had a wonderful season so far,” said Currie. "We noticed today after five minutes we had Lee (Chapman) on the right-hand side and James on the left-hand side.
"James wasn't getting much change so we said 'Chappers' (Chapman) can more than deal with (David) Toure going forward, so we'll sacrifice Lee today and we'll get 'Teelo' to come over to the right-hand side to have a go at (Danny) Lafferty.
"And as soon as we moved 'Teelo' over to the right-hand side with Lafferty, (Matthew) Clarke came in and put them in a back five.
"So that creates another man, it gives you the opportunity to get Divin (Isamala) high and create two-v-twos.
"We do have match-winners within our ranks...he (Teelan) is one of them.
"His run and his finish for the goal...superb.
"Long may it continue, he's a special talent and we all know that."