VIEW ARE KINGS OF QUEEN’S

PSNI captain and talisman Tony Tumelty is confident that team spirit and belief will help steer the club away from relegation.

The south Belfast outfit have won just three of their last 20 league matches, have lost each of their last four and are just a solitary point above basement side Knockbreda.

However, Tumelty insists that performances have improved since the appointment of Glenn Taggart (below) in January and alongside his number two Chris Wright, the coaching team are getting it right at the club.

“We are totally confident in staying up,” Tumelty told Match On Tuesday.

“Glenn and Chris have been very good since coming into the club – they have changed the training regime and now there is a really good mentality about the place.

“We go into every game now believing that we are going to win and whenever they came into the club we were in a real rut and confidence was on the floor. “Glenn’s first game in charge saw us win away at Ards and every game now we are sticking together and fighting for each other, even if we aren’t seeing that in terms of results.

“The average age of this team is only around 21 – I’m the only player in my 30s in the squad, so it’s a steep learning curve for a lot of the players.

“Earlier in the season we were conceding four or five goals regularly but that doesn’t happen any more – there has been a big improvement.”

The major issue for the PSNI this campaign has been their defensive numbers caused by inexperience and player departures – they have just one clean sheet in their last 47 league games and have shipped 94 league goals this season.

On Saturday the hosts had to play 16-year-old Lewis Brown as their goalkeeper due to the unavailability of regular shotstopper Dylan Stewart – on loan from the Ports – who himself is aged just 18.

“We knew we had to protect Lewis and defend right – which we have struggled with all season,” added Tumelty.

“The result on Saturday was frustrating as we gave a good account of ourselves – Portadown are top of the league for a reason and they will punish mistakes.

“Their first goal was us conceding yet again from a set-piece, which we have struggled with all season, and we felt there was a foul in the build-up to the second goal for them, but nothing seems to go right for you when you’re at the foot of the table.

“Our defeat against Knockbreda last week was probably our most damaging of the season as it brought them right back into the mix and put the pressure back on us.

“We have to realise that performances and the style of football are secondary to getting results right now.

“We know we are capable of beating anyone on our day – a few weeks ago we lost the game in the last minutes against Ballinamallard.

“Anything can happen between now and the end of the season – there’s plenty of football still to be played.”

As is customary, sides who are strug

IT was a week of winners and losers in the Championship with no stalemates in any of the eight matches to be held last week. There were two midweek fixtures to help clear up the backlog – promotionchasing Ballinamallard edged out a 2-1 victory at H&W Welders while Dergview won 3-2 at home to Queen’s. In a quirk of the fixture list, that same match-up was played out again at Darragh Park on Saturday and again Ivan Sproule’s side came out on top in a 2-0 win. Paul Smith and Emmett Mcnabb were on target for the Castlederg side to complete an excellent week for the club and help pull them further away from the relegation zone. Those victories were even more important due to the bottom two sides Knockbreda and PSNI both suffering home losses on Saturday. Gary Donnelly, JB Dobbin and Nathan O’neill were all on target for Ballyclare in a 3-1 victory at Knockbreda, while goals from Adam Salley and Stephen Murray gave the Ports victory at PSNI. The most eye-catching result of the weekend came at the Newry Showgrounds as the hosts fell to a three-goal defeat at home to highflying Loughgall. Peter Campbell, Jordan Gibson and Ben Neill all netted for Dean Smith’s side, who are now unbeaten in eight league games, picking up 20 points in that run, while Declan Carville was sent off for Newry. Loughgall remain one point behind second-placed Ballinamallard as Harry Mcconkey’s side edged out Dundela 1-0 at Ferney Park. Ryan “Rocket” Campbell scored the only goal of the game in Fermanagh, with Dundela now winless in their last four outings. Ards increased their unbeaten streak in the league to six matches and secured a third successive victory by edging out H&W Welders 2-1 at Tillysburn Park. Caoimhin Mcconnell opened the scoring for John Bailie’s side before Scott Davidson levelled from the spot, but it was a penalty for the visitors that won the game – Kym Nelson converting it. There are three matches taking place tonight – Loughgall host H&W Welders and Dundela travel to PSNI (both 7.45pm starts), while Dergview host Newry (8pm). FIGHTING BACK Tony Tumelty gives a teammate a lift after his recent goal at Knockbreda UPHILL BATTLE Aaron Cochrane after his goal at Knockbreda. The PSNI will be needing more of the same to avoid drop