Danske Bank Irish Premiership: Institute v Cliftonville (today, 3pm)
INSTITUTE manager Paddy McLaughlin believes his side wouldn’t survive in the Danske Bank Irish Premiership by playing a more direct style of football – and is delighted to be sitting in eighth place at the midway point of the season.
The Premier League new boys have been earning rave reviews for their possession style football this season – but McLaughlin says it was the only way to go about competing in the senior ranks.
McLaughlin’s former Derry City colleague Kevin Deery made great strides at Institute but after a couple of near-misses at promotion, he walked away at the end of the 2016/17 season with McLaughlin taking over.
In his first season in charge McLaughlin delivered promotion.
“We knew coming from the Championship it was going to be a big ask just to survive in the Premiership against all the big clubs in the country,” said McLaughlin.
“So, to be sitting eighth at this point of the season, we’re delighted but we know there is a long way to go and there will be a lot of ups and downs. But we’re prepared for it and we’ll keep our heads down because there is a lot of room for improvement. We’re not getting carried away with ourselves.”
The former Derry City defender revealed he was forced to tweak institute’s style of playing during the close season by putting greater emphasis on keeping the ball.
“Believe it or not, we actually worked on playing more football, [gaining] more possession because we’re playing on better surfaces.
“You probably get a bit more time in the Premier but you’re playing against higher class opposition as well and if you give the ball away in bad areas, you’re in bother.
“But, if we’d just gone long we would never survive, so we tried to change our philosophy and add a bit more football to us.”
Many newly promoted sides tend to play the percentages when they reach the top flight but Institute have stuck to their footballing principles and it appears to be paying dividends.
In their 3-3 home draw with Glentoran at the Brandywell last weekend, the side strung together 25 consecutive passes in one move that led to a goal.
“Our strength is keeping the ball,” McLaughlin explained.
“We have technically good players; they are comfortable on the ball. If I start telling them to go long they probably won’t listen to me. Because we’ve a lot of technically gifted players that’s why we try to keep the ball and play to our strengths."
On last week’s brilliant team goal against the Glens, the manager added: “The thing about it was we played almost exactly the same move against Crusaders but we hit the post.
“The good play goes unnoticed until there is end product. Recently, we’ve been getting a bit of end product so fair play to our boys – they believe in what they’re doing, they trust themselves and they trust each other.”
He added: “I know it’s all about results but I think you’ve a right to entertain. We try and play good football. We’re about trying to get results as well but if you can get a result by playing good football, then brilliant. That’s what we set out to do.”
McLaughlin has taken different bits from every manager he’s played under and tried to implement them at Institute.
He played one season under Stephen Kenny at Derry City and was gushing of the Republic of Ireland U21 manager’s meticulous approach.
“His attention to detail was incredible,” McLaughlin said of Kenny.
“I mean, we would have worked on a throw in for half an hour – just one throw in. When you’re getting that from your coach, you raise your own level and expectation.
“If he’s prepared to work half an hour on a throw in, what is he prepared to put into general play? The man will go down as a legend.
“His professionalism is something that I’ve tried to buy into a wee bit as a coach and the success he’s gained has been incredible. You’ll probably never see the like of it again. The work that he does behind the scenes has never been seen before and it’s brought a lot of success. One thing I have learned from him is never under-value the players around you and your staff for what they do.
“It’s great that Stephen is involved at the top of Irish football.”
Michael McCrudden, last year’s Championship player of the year with 26 goals, is ‘Stute’s leading scorer again this season with 10 goals and will be the biggest danger to travelling Cliftonville this afternoon.
Barry Gray’s men are in fine form, winning their last three league games to get within touching distance of third-placed Glenavon.
“Cliftonville have players that can really hurt you, so we have to be on our guard,” McLaughlin warned.
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Danske Bank Irish Premiership stats
Ballymena United v Ards
TOP versus bottom. No surprises likely here as the Braidmen are expected to keep a firm grip of top spot.
Odds: H:1/7 D:11/2 A:11/1
Prediction: Ballymena
Coleraine v Dungannon Swifts
RODNEY McAree welcomes his old club to Ballycastle Road today with the Bannsiders’ erratic form continuing ever since Oran Kearney left for St Mirren. The home side have lost three of their last four but will fancy their chances of sending the Swifts home empty handed.
Odds: H:1/2 D:3/1 A:4/1
Prediction: Coleraine
Crusaders v Warrenpoint Town
JUST when you think the Crues have turned the corner, they hit the hard shoulder. Despite languishing in fifth, the Crues are still expected to mount a title challenge against a Warrenpoint side who are no pushovers this season.
Odds: H:2/9 D:9/2 A:15/2
Prediction: Crusaders
Institute v Cliftonville
THE fourth-placed Reds have hit 12 goals in their last three league games and will want to make more ground on Glenavon. But Institute know every nook and cranny of the new Brandywell pitch and could be good enough for a share of the spoils here.
Odds: H:3/1 D:3/1 A:8/13
Prediction: Draw
Linfield v Glenavon
MARK Stafford and Daniel Kearns are available again for the Blues while Port Vale target Mark Sykes is expected to line out for the Lurgan Blues in a game that should have plenty of goals.
Odds: H:1/1 D:5/2 A:21/10
Prediction: Linfield
