‘The time for talking is over’ says McCann

The Whites’ losing streak was extended this week as they crashed out of the Co. Antrim Shield at Donegal Celtic, following a drubbing at Windsor Park at the hands of champions Linfield in the league last Friday night.

It certainly doesn’t get any easier for McCann’s men as they welcome league leaders Cliftonville to New Grosvenor tomorrow (Saturday, 3pm), and the Whites’ manager is not expecting an easy task.

“Any Cliftonville side I’ve known is very dogged,” said McCann. “They will fight for every single ball, they have great quality, they are up at the top for a reason.

“It is up to us to try to prevent them from taking any points. We have to match their work rate and enthusiasm and if you do that, you stand a better chance of getting something.

“We need to win every first ball, every second ball, we need to be in their faces, be vocal and let them know they are in for a game.

“My job is to get the players lifted,” he added. “Everyone at the club is down, there just needs to be one good performance that we get something out of and don’t lose.”

McCann, who said he had expected his side to be mid-table and not lying bottom of the league, has taken comfort from advice from Roy Coyle.

“He said things didn’t go too well for him at first in management, but rather than winning from the off, when things do come together you’ve been at both ends of the scale. It just makes you stronger as a manager.

“I’m confident in the players we have here. We need to stop feeling sorry for ourselves, make our own luck. We need to be hard to beat. I’d rather now play ugly and win, it’s getting to a point now where we need to win,” McCann admitted.

The Whites will hold a training session on Friday night, where McCann will outline what he expects from his players.

“We need to do some hard work in training and make sure everyone knows their role. It is not for the lack of trying, but we need that break in front of goal, we need to make that luck. The time for talking is over, it’s time to start winning.”