Tipton demands players stand up to Cliftonville’s attacking talent
WARRENPOINT Town manager Matthew Tipton says his players will be prepared for an onslaught from Cliftonville’s attacking talent at Solitude today.
After an indifferent start to the season, Barry Gray’s men are starting to find their form and Tipton will demand his side stand up and be counted in north Belfast.
A fortnight ago, Joe Gormley struck twice in a vital 2-1 win at Carrick and last weekend the Reds came from 2-0 down to beat Linfield 3-2 with Jay Donnelly among those on target, while in midweek Cliftonville hammered seven past PSNI in the League Cup.
Tipton says: “Every game is a challenge. We are coming up against good football teams week in, week out. We will be going to Cliftonville and we hope we know what to expect there.
“We have to be prepared for an onslaught because they have some amount of firepower.”
While Cliftonville want to continue their surge up the Danske Bank Premiership table, Warrenpoint need points themselves in what promises to be a compelling relegation battle.
Town are second bottom, three points ahead of Ballinamallard and two behind Carrick Rangers who they drew 2-2 with at home last weekend.
Quizzed on how he feels his side have performed this season, the former Portadown striker gave an honest assessment.
He said: “Results-wise terribly because we only have four points. Performance-wise we have had some very good performances and maybe not got the results and we have had some poor and sloppy performances, Crusaders away and Ballymena at home to spring to mind.
“The first half against Carrick Rangers at home wasn’t acceptable. The boys know that. Then in the second half we turned it on and looked like a decent football team.
“We have good players at the club. What we need is for them to perform consistently.”