Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
GRAY: SAME AGAIN BOYS
Reds boss wants repeat of weekend’s A-star show
CLIFTONVILLE manager Barry Gray doesn’t care what Linfield team turns up tonight – his only concern is ensuring his players bring their A-game to Windsor Park (7.45pm).
Consistency and form have been a patchwork affair for both sides heading into tonight’s high profile Tennent’s Irish Cup quarter-final in South Belfast.
The Reds may have beaten league leaders Crusaders 3-1 on Saturday, but in their last 14 games in all competitions, they’ve won just five, drawn three and lost six.
Linfield’s recent record has been equally haphazard. In 14 outings since Boxing Day, the cup holders have won seven, drawn three and lost four.
If there’s ever a time to roll out the ‘whoever turns up on the night’ cliché, this is it.
Gray said: “I don’t know how big this game is for Linfield and I have to be brutally honest and say I don’t care. I certainly wouldn’t shrug off saying it’s a big game for us.
“Why? Because it’s an Irish Cup quarter-final and it’s the only chance we have left of winning silverware this season. These are the games you want to be involved in.
“League positions and form go out the window and we have an opportunity to secure a place in the semi-finals of the Irish Cup. Why be afraid of it? It’s a massive motivation.”
Cliftonville’s tails are up after Saturday’s commanding win over the Crues. Gray said: “That performance should give us belief and a real platform to go into Tuesday night believing we can win another game and progress.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a league game or an Irish Cup quarter-final. The challenge after Saturday is to back it up with another win and so on.
“Everyone has been telling me how many games we’ve lost recently, so to get back to winning ways against Crusaders was pleasing, but what pleased me most was the level of performance.
“We had leaders all across the pitch and it’s about tapping into that week in, week out.”
Linfield, who beat Coleraine 3-0 in last year’s final, head into tonight’s tie on the back of Saturday’s 2-0 league win over Carrick Rangers.