Irish Premiership: ‘Maybe we didn’t expect it to be this tough’ – Smith

Loughgall manager Dean Smith has said that struggling in the lower reaches of the Irish Premiership is a challenge the club expected at some point, but he did not expect things to be so difficult in the current campaign.

The villagers finished ninth last season following promotion to the top flight and have started this season in good fashion picking up four points from their first two games.

Smith’s side have picked up just one more point from their last 10 league games and lost their last seven on the bounce, as well as crashing out of the BetMcLean Cup at the hands of Armagh City.

“It’s a different challenge, but it’s a challenge that we probably knew was coming at some point, so as a group we’re well prepared for it,” Smith said.

“We knew it could be a tough season, but it’s probably one that maybe we didn’t expect it to be as tough.

“Obviously we’ve started well and the last few games we haven’t been getting the results that our performances have warranted at times.

“At the end of the day we know we’re a small town club and where we stand financially.”

Things don’t get any easier for the league’s basement side as they look to close the four-point gap on 11th-placed Carrick Rangers in the league table.

Linfield are the visitors to Lakeview Park on Friday night in a game which will be broadcast on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

“They’re a top team and for us, that’s probably why we’ve fought so hard to get into this league is for teams like Linfield to come to Lakeview Park on a Friday night under the lights with the BBC cameras there,” he said. said Smith.

“They have players all over the pitch who can hurt you at any time. We know we have to be at our best.”