Irish League Football

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Glenavon manager Paddy McLaughlin said that their run of eight straight league to start the season is "frustrating" but that he believes they will start to pick up points soon.

The Lurgan Blues, who are rooted to the foot of the table, suffered their latest defeat on Saturday as they lost 2-0 against Linfield at Windsor Park.

Despite their worrying run of form which has also led to them scoring just twice and conceding 15 goals, McLaughlin is adamant that his squad can turn their difficult start around.

"It's frustrating, no doubt about that when you see how hard the players are working and the chances we are giving up," he told BBC Sport NI.

"We know there is quality in the changing room, that the heart and desire is there and if we can clean up at both ends of the park, we will get points soon enough."

McLaughlin was left to rue more defensive mistakes as a Kyle McClean double helped the Blues to a routine home win.

"I think we matched them for large parts, a few errors for the two goals which is disappointing when you're putting in so much effort to get behind the ball but going the other way we didn't carry enough of a threat," he added.

"It's something we have had a while; it is something we are working on as a team, going forward we have to do more."

Linfield goal scorer McClean was delighted with his side's solid showing as they got back to winning ways following Tuesday's defeat against Ballymena United.

"We were hugely disappointed with the way the game went on Tuesday, it is something we have to do here and something we have been good at recently, bouncing back, so we're happy to do that today," he said.

"I'm pleased with it [the performance] a lot can be made of it, but looking at the stats, Glenavon had no shots on target, and we had plenty of opportunities, on another day you score two or three so any game you win with a clean sheet you're over the moon."

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Dungannon Swifts boss Rodney McAree said his side's 2-1 win against nine-man Cliftonville represented a "vital three points".

The Swifts picked up only their second league victory of the season courtesy of first-half goals from Junior Uzokwe and Caolan Marron.

Joe Gormley had pulled a goal back for the Reds, who had Rory Hale sent off for a handball on the goal line and then saw Jonny Addis dismissed for two yellow card offences to set up a nervy finish for the Swifts.

Despite their numerical advantage, McAree's side had to defend deep with Cliftonville spurning chances to equalise late on.

"It's a vital three points. It's not pretty in the end, and it's not the way we want to win games," he told BBC Sport NI.

"I thought we started well and did okay until half-time after Rory Hale was sent off, but in the second half, we lacked control and composure. We played like a team with only three points from the first seven games, and there was a nervousness about us.

"It was a tough watch from our point of view, but I'd asked the players to give us hard work and an honest performance, and I think we got that. Yes, we lacked quality, but once the whistle went, I was relieved and happy to get the win."

McAree praised Junior Uzokwe's performance and his ability to settle quickly at the club after arriving late in the summer window.

"I thought Junior was very good. He was our best player in the second half too, probably the only one who showed composure and got us higher up the pitch," he added.

"I've worked with him before, and he brings energy, strength and aerial ability.

"He was exceptional today and took his penalty very well. He could easily have had another one with the pull at the back post, but overall, he did really well."

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Cliftonville boss Jim Magilton said his side conceded "two really poor goals" in their 2-1 defeat against Dungannon Swifts at Stangmore Park.

Junior Uzokwe scored a 19th minute penalty after Reds captain Rory Hale was sent off for a handball on the goal line.

Caolan Marron doubled the Swifts' advantage with a header from a free-kick before the break, with Joe Gormley pulling a goal back for Cliftonville, who then had Jonny Addis sent off for two yellow card offences.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Magilton believes his side had ample opportunities to salvage a draw from the game.

"First 45 minutes, we weren't at the races. Two really poor goals added to the sending off, so you're up against it. At half-time, you ask for courage, and you ask for do-or-die in the shirt, and we got that," he told BBC Sport NI.

"We played with more intensity. We knew we were giving up space, but still felt we could hurt them on the counter-attack, which we did.

"We had unbelievable opportunities to draw level, and on another day, those would have gone in. Today they didn't, and we lost the game."

Magilton referenced chances that fell the way of strikers Eric McWoods and Conor Falls that his side failed to capitalise on as they suffered a third defeat of the season.

"It became a basketball match and, in the end, they hung on," he added.

"[For McWoods' chance] It was a fantastic move, a fantastic bit of play. Eric's in the box, does everything right, but hits it straight at the keeper. On another day, it goes in.

"Conor Falls had an even better chance. It was a free header in the six-yard box. I don't think he was expecting it, but that was the big moment.

"Eric's chance was massive, but Conor's header from Jonny Addis's cross was just as good an opportunity."

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Crusaders boss Declan Caddell said his side produced a "real complete performance" in their 1-1 draw with Ballymena United at Seaview.

Despite dominating, Crusaders fell behind to Calvin McCurry's goal early in the second half, but fought back admirably to salvage a point late on through Fraser Bryden's penalty.

And Caddell believes it was a good response to Tuesday's heavy defeat against Larne, albeit he was frustrated his side could not take all three points.

"We dominated the game for 85 minutes, their only attack was their goal. We switched off for a set play and it was really disappointing," he told BBC Sport NI.

"Ballymena had a spell after they scored but then we grew into the game, thoroughly deserved the equaliser and pushed for the winner.

"I'm really happy with the performance, it was a real complete performance bar that one lapse of concentration.

"It's disappointing we didn't get the three points but if we play like that each week, we will be fine."

Goal scorer Bryden, who is the current Irish Premiership top scorer with six goals, was relieved to contribute from the spot after spurning an earlier opportunity in the game.

He is also content with the start to life he has made in north Belfast following a summer switch from Ayr United.

"Frustrating afternoon and a feeling of disappointment, we should have come away with all three points after that first half performance," he explained.

"I missed a sitter at 1-0 down so when the penalty came, I grabbed the chance with both hands. I was confident stepping up to it and was glad it went in the back of the net.

"I'm really pleased with my performances, as a striker, scoring goals is the most important thing and I just want to help the team."

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Portadown boss Niall Currie said that their 4-1 defeat against Bangor at Shamrock Park on Friday night was the "lowest performance" of his second spell in charge of the club.

Ben Cushnie's strike put the hosts ahead before Eamon Fyfe levelled for the Ports.

It went downhill from there however, as Reece Neale's free-kick restored Bangor's with Liam Hassin and Mark Haughey giving the away side a comfortable victory.

Currie lamented the nature of the goals they conceded, the second successive game in which Ports have shipped four goals following a 4-1 defeat against Coleraine last weekend.

"You're not going to win football matches when you're conceding the kind of goals we conceded. We are conceding far too many soft goals," he told BBC Sport NI.

"That is as bad as it gets, that is the lowest performance since I returned to the club three years ago, but that is on me, so the only way to get through this is to stay together."

Portadown are 10th in the table and have picked up just two wins from their first eight league games, but Currie believes they will make it through their current predicament of three straight defeats.

"We know if we get our act together, we can be a decent side. We carried seven or eight players against Bangor, and you can't do that," he added.

"We were nowhere near it; they were first and second to every ball and clinical with their chances. When you're off it in this league you get punished."

Bangor assistant manager John Douglas said some of their play was "sensational" and some of the goals they scored were "really good" as they picked up their first away win since returning to the top flight.

"Delighted with the performance and hopefully it is the first away win of many. We are getting better week on week with experience."

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Glentoran's Jordan Stewart insists he is not listening to his "critics" and is playing with "a lot of confidence" after his match-winning performance against Coleraine on Friday night.

Stewart, who rejoined the Glens in the summer after a single season at Crusaders, struck twice in the second half to help Declan Devine's undefeated pacesetters extend their lead at the top of the Irish Premiership table to four points.

The 30-year-old, who won an Irish Cup in his first spell at the Oval, doubled his tally for the season after being restored to the starting line-up at the Showgrounds.

"I've a lot to thank the manager for and his coaching staff for bringing me here," said Stewart, who also won four Irish Premiership titles during a seven-year spell at Linfield.

"I had a lot of critics when I came here and I knew I was going to get them, but it was an opportunity to play for a massive club and I've relished that.

"You need luck along the way but I've worked hard. It's been a good start but I'm not getting carried away, football can turn very quickly but I'll enjoy the good moments while they last."

When asked about silencing his critics, Stewart added: "Everyone's entitled to an opinion. It was a selfish decision for me, when Glentoran came knocking, you could say you're getting on in your career and I've had a few injuries.

"I wanted to come here and challenge myself, there were opportunities to go elsewhere but I saw this as a massive challenge and an opportunity for me to do well in the backend of my career."

Having brought Stewart back in for Friday's game, Devine said Stewart has "nothing to prove".

"I knew he would bring that and more," added the Glens boss.

"Jordan would be the first to tell you it's a team game but he was fantastic tonight.

"You look at his goals but what Jordan Stewart did without the ball tonight, what Liam Burt did without the ball, they're flair players but their discipline and willingness to do the ugly stuff was important to us."

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Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree says everyone involved "has to do a wee bit more" if the club are to gather the points they need to pull clear of the foot of the Irish Premiership table.

Last season's Irish Cup winners and fourth-place finishers lie in 11th place in the league table with one win and six defeats from their first seven top division outings of the campaign.

Next up for the Stangmore Park side is the visit of in-form Cliftonville on Saturday.

"I think they [the players] have to change, we all have to change and do a wee bit more," McAree told BBC Sport NI.

"Everybody has to deliver a wee bit more, that's from myself down through the coaching staff and through to the players.

"Everybody has to work a wee bit harder and we have to try and fight our way out of it. Too often lately we haven't fought hard enough for ourselves and we haven't worked hard enough.

"First and foremost when you cross the white line you have to work extremely hard and we're not doing that well enough."

Dungannon beat Glenavon at Mourneview Park to secure their first points of the season but then lost at home to Crusaders last week.

"It feels like we were taking one step forward and then two steps back. We have to find that level of consistency, that level of performance that's going to help us climb up the table.

"Cliftonville have shown a determination and a grit within their camp that they want to grind out results but we'll collectively do our best to put things right."

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Glenavon assistant manager Colin Coates has said that the Lurgan Blues "will keep fighting" as they search for their elusive first point of the season after seven straight defeats to start their Irish Premiership campaign.

Paddy McLaughlin's men sit bottom, three points adrift of Dungannon Swifts at the foot of the table, and face league champions Linfield in their next top flight game at Windsor Park on Saturday.

"I think seven defeats from seven games really doesn't tell the tale of the tape. In games we've missed chances and conceded soft goals," Coates told BBC Sport NI.

"They're a brilliant bunch of players, a great group of lads, plenty of quality in there too that we probably haven't seen enough of this season so far.

"We got a level of performance to build on against Larne [a 1-0 defeat last Saturday] and the challenge now is can we bottle that, can we bring it to the table every week.

"If we do, we will soon rattle off points and rid ourselves of that burden of having not won a game."

The former Crusaders captain says the spirit is good in the Mourneview Park camp despite the disappointing start to the season.

"We're always preparing for the next game. You're aware obviously that you've lost seven games and it's not ideal for any football club or any football team.

"It's how the players react and the gauge you get from them. They're giving their all and we just seem to have got into a wee rut at the minute of bad luck and when you're down there you keep getting kicked.

"The only way to get through it is to keep fighting and keep working hard and to the players' credit they're doing that every training night and every matchday."

Coates remains positive and confident that the club's fortunes will change.

"We'll keep fighting and it will turn. There's no doubt about that in our minds that it will turn. If we can replicate the effort and commitment we showed against Larne, we'll have no problems moving forward.

"Every week brings a new challenge and Linfield away at Windsor Park is probably the ultimate challenge.

"We look forward to it. No better game as a player to get that first win."

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Larne interim manager Gary Haveron has praised his side for their run of five consecutive clean sheets during their run of five successive wins in the Irish Premiership.

That impressive run has seen the Invermen challenge near the top of the league table, with a derby against east Antrim neighbours Carrick Rangers next up for Haveron's side on Saturday.

"I absolutely believe the cornerstone of any good team is clean sheets and that's our fifth on the bounce," Haveron told BBC Sport NI after watching his charges defeat Crusaders 4-0 on Tuesday.

"When we don't concede goals and we're ruthless in the box then we'll always have a chance in the game because we've got so many exciting talented players going forward.

"We've still got Paul O'Neill to come back in the mix, we've still got Leroy Millar to come back in, and Dylan Sloan. Aaron Donnelly's got one more game to serve of his suspension and then he comes back in, so it bodes really well that we have four excellent players on the cusp of coming back into the set-up."

With those players nearing a return, Haveron has urged the players currently in possession of shirts to make it difficult for him to drop them from the team.

"I said to the lads who are in there that when you have the shirt don't give it up easy, keep the shirt and make it a real problem for me to leave you out.

"I think the boys are definitely doing that with the level of performance.

"We've got strength and depth within the squad and we're capable of changing how we play to accommodate some of our best players.

"I'm excited about it. It gives me more options and that's only a good thing."

The interim Larne boss has praised the performances of central defensive pairing Matt Ridley and Ryan Nolan, who have excelled in the absence of Donnelly.

"Matt has been a rock for us at the back, alongside Ryan. The two of them have been absolutely outstanding.

"I couldn't have asked any more of the two boys. They're so committed, they train so hard. There's zero management to managing the two lads. They are very dedicated and committed."

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While acknowledging Friday's home assignment against Glentoran is "mouth-watering", Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins says they will approach the game like any other (19:45 BST, live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website).

It is a meeting of the Irish Premiership's last remaining unbeaten teams with the Glens holding a slender one-point lead over Friday's opposition and Larne at the top of the table. Coleraine are just below the Invermen on goal difference, but have a game in hand on the league leaders.

Both clubs have made a good start to the new season and although the opportunity to go top with a win on Friday would be welcome, Higgins insists this stage of a campaign is just about banking points.

"I'd imagine it will be a massive crowd at the Showgrounds on Friday night with the lights on," he told BBC Sport NI after Saturday's 4-1 win at Portadown.

"It's mouth-watering, but we will prepare for it the way we prepare for any game and make sure the lads are ready.

"We want to win the game and get as many points on the board as soon as possible. It's another three points on offer and we are coming up against a good team. May the best team win."

Glentoran's previous outing was last week's 1-1 draw against Linfield at the Oval and manager Declan Devine has urged his players to seek improvements as the season progresses.

The Glens' boss will have Christie Pattisson available for the first time this season, having served a nine-game suspension from the the post-match brawl against Larne on the final day of the last campaign.

"We're just trying to go game by game," Devine said after the 'Big Two' derby.

"We have players to come back. That's the end of Christie Pattisson's suspension, Dylan (Connolly) will be back in another three or four games, Joe Thomson.

"We need to make sure we prepare really well and strive to get better, week by week. We've a tough game now and will get ready to go to Coleraine."

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Linfield manager David Healy said Tuesday's 1-0 defeat at Ballymena United was "frustrating and disappointing."

The Blues enjoyed plenty of possession but couldn't turn pressure into points as Matthew Clarke's 21st-minute goal was enough to condemn the defending champions to their first defeat of the league campaign.

Healy felt his team did a lot right, but a lack quality in attack to get back on terms would ultimately see them come away empty handed from the Showgrounds.

"We had so many final third entries tonight and couldn't capitalise on them," Healy told BBC Sport NI.

"You empty the bench and put the attackers on hoping for the clinical finish, but we didn't get that. We had 11 corners and never looked a threat.

"We had other bits and pieces, fluffed shots, half shots and didn't work hard enough in the final third. We didn't pick the right pass, the weight of pass was off. You can have as much possession as you like, but Ballymena managed the game.

"I can't fault the players' efforts as they played the way we want them to play, but in the attacking third we just didn't do enough."