WE’LL SILENCE THE KNOCKERS

Breda boss Forsythe is confident he has a squad to cope in a tough league

KNOCKBREDA boss Lee Forsythe has challenged his team to prove the doubters wrong and demonstrate why no Championship club should underestimate them.

The former Ards Rangers manager – who saw his side overcome Dundela 3-1 in the League Cup on Saturday – pointed to local bookmakers placing them as rank outsiders in the second tier this season and insisted this should provide suitable motivation.

“According to the bookmakers, we are the worst team in the league,” Forsythe told Match on Tuesday.

“We’re 50-1 to win the league, no team has longer odds and the job for me and my players is to prove them wrong, to show what we’re about and what we can do.

“Even before Saturday’s game nobody was really giving us a chance down at Dundela but we worked hard and got the performance and result we were looking for.

“It was a thoroughly deserved victory for us, we were three goals up and in total control – the only annoyance was not being able to keep our clean sheet.

“Our performance was totally professional throughout and nobody from Dundela could have any complaints with the result.

“This did not surprise me in any way – we’ve enjoyed a strong pre-season and the squad is shaping up well, we are a good team and we have the drive to show people that.

“It’s nice to have momentum going into the first league game and it was my first East Belfast derby as a boss and being from that part of the city made it more enjoyable.”

Forsythe originally joined the

Breda Park outfit last summer but only assumed the position as first-team manager after Jeff Montgomery’s exit earlier this year.

“Last season was a little bit of a transition for the club but this time round we can really get our teeth into things,” he continued.

“This season I’m in charge of the squad and that stability is key for us, now I’m in a position where I can call the shots and having spent a year at the club, I’m aware of what I want. “The entire club is making strong progress and we are growing – last season our Under-20 team was in the George Wilson Cup final and that’s part of developing the club throughout.

“I had a few years in charge at Ards Rangers and the ethos there are now the same here: for everyone involved to work hard, give their all and for that stability to lead to success.

“I aim to keep things simple, make sure we get the basics right, are a really tough side to beat and add some quality into the final third and this summer we have done that.”

The East Belfast outfit made a raft of new additions this summer including former top-flight forwards Jordan Baker and Gary Warwick, formerly of Derriaghy and Portadown respectively.

“Now we have a squad that feels like a Lee Forsythe one, and that was evident on Saturday because we had nine new players in the 16-man squad,” added the boss.

“We have a little bit more depth than beforehand and I believe we are in better shape than a year ago, but we are not fools and know what sort of a league we are in.

“We have Larne first up and of course that’s a big challenge for us, but this season we will not look beyond our next game, we will prepare thoroughly for each match and formulate a plan to win it.

“Tiernan Lynch is under another type of pressure in terms of the expectations they have but we are in the same division and will make it a real battle.”

So how will Forsythe setup his side against the Championship title favourites next week?

“It goes back to my message of simplicity,” he replied. “There’s a lot of money in this league but that’s why we need to make sure we work harder than everyone else, because if we don’t then we will get nowhere.

“Hard work and effort are free and in this division clubs will get punished if they aren’t working or aren’t battling, it doesn’t matter how much experience they have.

“We know how big the challenge is for us but we don’t want to be in the same position as last season (avoiding a relegation playoff on the final day of the season) and I don’t think we will be.

“Last season we had lots of good players but maybe had a bit of a psychological weakness but now with this group we are tough and know how to deal with things.”

Kick-off at Breda Park on Saturday is at 3pm.