Cliftonville good enough to mount title challenge if away days improve, insists Reds legend Breslin
CLIFTONVILLE legend Tommy Breslin says that the Reds have a shot at winning the league title this season.
Breslin knows all about bringing success to Solitude having famously claimed back to back titles in 2013 and 2014 when in charge of Cliftonville and he feels the current crop could be top dogs in the Danske Bank Premiership if they could find some consistency on the road.
At home the Reds, who are fourth in the table, have been in superb form winning eight out of 10 league fixtures but away they have lost five from eight.
The difference is clear and ahead of today’s trip to Ards, Breslin suggests that if his old club can deliver on their travels they could set up a title challenge. Barry Gray’s men will enter the match 10 points be- hind leaders Ballymena United, though Cliftonville have a match in hand.
“At home they are outstanding and their record, as it has been in previous years, is very good,” says Breslin.
“Away from home they lack consistency. Do they have the players to put in a league challenge? Yes, they do and if they get that consistency I wouldn’t rule them out of the title.”
Speaking to Cool FM’s Bet McLean Football show, Breslin added: “The interesting thing for me will be when Ballymena lose a game. Cliftonville have had a rocky patch but it is has been away from home. They are the sort of team that could go on a run. It is a big ask but it’s not impossible.
“The two years we won the league we maybe went 14, 15 or 16 games unbeaten from Christmas to near the end of the season. It’s how you finish the league as opposed to how you start it. If they can get that consistency don’t rule them out.”
Rory Donnelly has been in fine scoring form lately for the Reds and the threat from Joe Gormley is always there. What Ards boss Colin Nixon would do for a striker of his prowess. Ards have only scored 14 goals in 19 league matches this season with Mark Kelly on four goals their top marksman.
It is no surprise that Nixon is determined to bring in a goal-getter in the January transfer window. Until then the aim will be to make sure that Ards aren’t cut adrift at the bottom.
Meanwhile, Reds boss Gray is hoping his side can maintain the fresh momentum.
“It’s about putting a run together,” Gray told the club’s website. “We’ve been in a similar position to this on a couple of occasions this season but haven’t been able to press forward and really make things count.
“The performance against Dungannon a couple of weeks ago was very good and, in the end, if we had a disappointment it was that we only scored five goals on the day. Last week against Glenavon was a much different challenge and a much different sort of performance to get the points.
“Ards is a different challenge again. We can expect a different kind of game but, from our point of view, the question we’re asking is can we build on what we’ve done in the last couple of weeks?
“It’s going to be another day for putting the hard yards in because you can be sure that’s what Ards are going to do. They’re just as hungry for the points but we’re going down there knowing how big a win could be for us.
“We need to put a run together and make sure that the two wins of the last two weeks aren’t left sitting on their own.”