Manager’s programme notes
Posted : 20th November 2021
Today we will face a huge challenge from a table topping Cliftonville side that are currently challenging for honours on all fronts. We saw in the recent game between the two teams how good the Reds are at present and we know that we will have to be on top of our game, both offensively and defensively, if we are to become only the second team to defeat Cliftonville in all competitions this season.
Today's game provides us with an ideal opportunity to bounce back after several disappointing results and performances in recent away games against Portadown, Ballymena United and Crusaders.
There are often fine margins between success and failure and in each of the three recent away games, we were unable to convert opportunities at key points in the games and undeniably, this proved costly as two of our opponents were able to take full advantage and bring our unbeaten domestic sequence to an end.
The aim is now to embark on another unbeaten run, starting with today's huge game against our cross city rivals.
Kyle McClean and Jack Ruddy returned for a recent Swifts game against Portadown reserves and for Kyle, it was the first tentative steps on the way back from a long lay off, due to a cruciate injury. We will continue to nurse him back to full fitness and a return to first team action.
Jake Corbett and Conor Pepper continue to make progress on the road to recovery after long term injuries and we will hopefully have Stephen Fallon, Andrew Clarke and Cameron Palmer fit and available to rejoin the squad in the near future.
Congratulations to Trai Hume who played for the Northern Ireland under 21s in their recent home games against Lithuania and Malta and congratulations also to our former player, Dale Taylor who earned his first senior international cap, aged just 17 in the recent World Cup qualifier against Lithuania.
I hope the Swifts were successful in their midweek Steel and Sons cup semi-final against Lisburn Distillery and also in their Intermediate Cup tie earlier today against Colin Valley. I also want to wish Linfield Rangers every success in next week's Harry Cavan Youth Cup tie away to Dungannon Swifts under 18s.
I want to acknowledge the contribution of our coaches and backroom staff towards the NIFWA manager of the month award that I was presented with for October from the Football Writers.
Our support will return to the South Stand today for the first time since the start of the lockdown and we really will need the positive and vocal backing from a big Linfield turn out today, to drive us on to try and achieve the positive outcome we all want from this huge local derby fixture.