Swifts prepare to face leaders Linfield

DUNGANNON’S festive programme of games didn’t quite work out how manager Dean Shiels and his assistant Tony Gorman had hoped.

Amongst the hectic schedule was back-to-back games against bottom side Warrenpoint Town.

Shiels and Gorman saw those games as a real opportunity to bank maximum points however things didn’t work out how the pair had perhaps anticipated.

In the first of those games a last-gasp Alan O’Sullivan equaliser denied Swifts what would have been a fifth win of the season and the second – scheduled for the Monday Bank Holiday – was postponed because of Covid issues in both camps.

That all means Swifts remain 10th, just a point better off than Portadown, and five ahead of basement boys Town.

Into the bargain Dungannon’s next two league games are against table-toppers Linfield on Saturday and fourth placed Larne on January 15th, a week after they face Lough 41 Championship outfit Knockbreda in the fifth round of the Irish Cup.

On paper that looks like a challenging start to 2022 but former Linfield player Gorman is looking no further than Saturday and the visit of David Healy’s Blues, providing, of course, the game goes ahead.

“It was disappointing that the second Warrenpoint game was off because we were going there confident of taking three points,” he said.

“We were hoping to put a bit of daylight between ourselves and Warrenpoint and possibly Portadown and then you are looking up and seeing who you can catch rather than who you are trying to get away from. Unfortunately that didn’t happen because of the Covid situation.

“The fact we didn’t have a game on Monday gave me the chance to watch Linfield in the Big Two clash and I thought they were very good.

“I thought they were unlucky not to take all three points against Glentoran. Linfield do what Linfield do by turning up for big games and putting in performances.

“They almost had the perfect game plan. Linfield, for 75 per cent of that game, controlled it and had the Glens stretched at times with their movement and pace up front.

“David Healy will be disappointed that they didn’t capitalise on their dominance by taking all three points.

“Saturday’s game is huge for us, in terms of performance and going out to compete.

“That’s been a key thing for us this season; that in the majority of games we have been competitive.

“Earlier in the season we went to Windsor Park and were 1-0 down with eight minutes remaining.

“We dominated possession in the second half of that game and then in the last 10 minutes we changed formation and went for it. Unfortunately we conceded two goals by gambling and ended up losing 3-0 which didn’t reflect the game at all.

“We also defeated Linfield 4-3 in a very entertaining pre-season friendly, so the players should be going into the game with a fair amount of optimism rather than fear.

“We have nothing to lose playing against the champions and the biggest club in the country.”

Saturday also marks the opening of the January transfer window and Gorman said Swifts, like every other club in the Danske Bank Premiership, will be looking to bring on some fresh faces to bolster their squad.

“We have spoken about possible players coming in. January is an opportunity to go and strengthen, it’s about being wise and identifying the players who are best going to fit into the system we try and play,” he said.

“It’s not just about ability, it’s about getting the right characters into the club as well. We feel we have a good group of lads and it’s important not to bring in someone who could disrupt the group. There are many factors to consider.”