Portadown boss Paul Doolin has warned his players to keep their collective foot to the floor as the Mid Ulster giants bid to salvage their top-flight status over the next three weeks.
A win over basement club Warrenpoint Town, who lie 12 points below them at the foot of the table with five games left, today would condemn Barry Gray’s men to automatic relegation.
A draw would also effectively do the trick on goal difference although Doolin is eager to continue looking upwards as they bid to scramble out of the dreaded drop zone.
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Carrick Rangers, who play Dungannon Swifts today, lie just a point above the Ports who are currently second bottom and in the relegation and promotion play-off spot.
“People might say ‘sure we’re safe now, we have a play-off’ but as far as I’m concerned we don’t have anything,” said Doolin.
“I’ve told the players, don’t think we’re already done. We’re not. It’s only starting. We’ve got to keep going and see what other points we can pick up.
“I’m here nine games and when I came in I wanted to try and pick up a few points before the split. We have managed to pick up 11 which in fairness was phenomenal.
“We’ve done marvelously well to close the gap (on Carrick) to one point, but we have to keep going. We still need to get a few more points.”
While Portadown have taken 10 points from their last five league games, Warrenpoint are on a seven game losing streak, their last a late 2-1 loss to Linfield at Milltown.
Doolin, who replaced Matthew Tipton on an interim basis at the end of January, said: “We’re at home and we’ve got to try and win.
“We’re also still close enough to Carrick and Dungannon and these post split games are the ones to win.
“The teams we’re playing now are the teams around us, so you really need to try and win these games.”
SATURDAY'S FIXTURES
(3pm kick-off unless stated)
SECTION A
Glentoran v Crusaders
Cliftonville v Linfield (5.30pm)
SECTION B
Carrick Rangers v Dungannon Swifts
Glenavon v Ballymena United
Portadown v Warrenpoint Town
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