Paddy McNally on THAT moment against Linfield and growing Portadown belief despite defeat

Portadown’s weekend loss to Linfield was a result quick to forget but a performance which could prove a regular in-house reference point over the season.
Linfield goalkeeper Chris Johns gets a crucial block on Paddy McNally’s late header to protect the 2-1 lead. Pic by Pacemaker.Linfield goalkeeper Chris Johns gets a crucial block on Paddy McNally’s late header to protect the 2-1 lead. Pic by Pacemaker.
Linfield goalkeeper Chris Johns gets a crucial block on Paddy McNally’s late header to protect the 2-1 lead. Pic by Pacemaker.

A return to the senior stage for the first time since 2017 has now left the Ports with derby delight over Glenavon followed by defeat to Coleraine, point at Warrenpoint and 2-1 reverse on Saturday against the Blues.

Ports centre-back Paddy McNally finished frustrated at both the overall result and how he was prevented from grabbing a late equaliser more by Linfield’s good fortune than design. However, McNally was quick to look beyond the short-term final scoreline towards the potential long-term gains.

“We’ve just been promoted but matched the best team in the country all over the pitch,” said McNally. “We were aggressive in our press, made good use of the ball when we had it and created chances.

“Good performances don’t give you points but what it should give this squad is the belief to know we are good enough to play at this level.

“I know what this league is all about and what it will throw at you but we’ve some younger lads who don’t and hopefully that performance today is one the players should take belief from...to a man we were outstanding.

“It was the most complete performance of the season.

“But it’s easy to get up for games against Linfield, good teams do it every week and now the bar’s set.

“We can’t get too down after a loss, in the same way we don’t get too high off a win...the games will come thick and fast so we’ve got to be ready.

“Not every side is as good as Linfield but different teams pose different threats.

“We matched Linfield all over the pitch but played Coleraine previously at home and were miles off it.

“We probably showed Coleraine too much respect, in a game early on in the season so almost a case of “welcome to this level”.

“But certainly we managed to learn from it, coming away from a tough place like Warrenpoint with a point knowing that, you try to win them all but if that’s not possible then you don’t lose.

“Today you can see again how we’ve been able to learn from past mistakes in the Coleraine game, so that’s very encouraging.

“Although we do need to address conceding two goals today we considered very avoidable...but we will go again, it’s that simple.

“We had a couple of chances at the end and one off me seemed to hit Chris Johns in the back but he’s a top goalkeeper and you buy your own luck in this game.

“But we kept going against quality opposition right to the end and could very easily have picked up a draw.

“So it’s the belief and positivity that’s massive for us.”

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