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Steven Crawford

Cliftonville have no time for self-pity says Paddy McLaughlin

Paddy McLaighlin says there is no time for Cliftonville to feel sorry for themselves with their "toughest game of the season" on the horizon.

The Reds were left stunned as Glenavon produced a stunning comeback at Solitude on Saturday to earn themselves a share of the spoils.

McLaughlin's men looked to be cruising to another three points after Ronan Hale and Joe Gormley put them two goals to the good with less than 20 minutes to go.

Read next: Portadown bring in familiar face as Niall Currie's first signing

But a Josh Doyle strike and a Jonny Addis own goal left the Reds smarting.

McLaughlin said there is no time for "self-pity" as they travel to Windsor Park on Tuesday night to face a Linfield side who have won their last three games in a row.

“There’s no better game to bounce back than going to the home of the champions and Windsor Park," said the Cliftonville boss.

“It’s a big setting and a big pitch, which suits our play down to the ground.

“There’s no time now for sucking your thumb and self pity; we’ve got to be prepared for probably our toughest game of the season because I’m sure that’s what Linfield will throw at us.

“I’m sure it will be a tough one. People are criticising them for not playing free flowing football but I don’t think anybody really is at this stage except maybe one or two.

“But it’s two sides who are working hard to find their best form and hopefully we find ours before them and it starts on Tuesday night.”

The Blues are playing catch-up in terms of the title race, and although David Healy has been pleased with Linfield's recent form, including the 3-0 win at Portadown on Saturday he admitted they cannot afford to drop further behind.

“We will want to be better but there were a lot of things to be pleased about on Saturday," he said.

“To score three goals in the second half was a big positive but I still want a lot more.

“Cliftonville are in form and have started the season well.

"We played them recently in the County Antrim Shield, so we have a fair idea of the way Paddy sets his teams up.

“This is going to be a big game and it’s down to myself and the players to ignite the crowd because we will need them.

“We have been sluggish and a little bit poor at times this season but hopefully the supporters turn up in big numbers as they always do for a big derby game.

“We are trying to build a bit of momentum because we are behind at the minute. We’ve done that in the last couple of games but it’s important that we now back that up against Cliftonville."

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