'We're getting to the levels we expect' - McDonnell

Glenavon manager Stephen McDonnell said his side are 'getting to the levels they expect' after their 2-1 defeat against Cliftonville at Mourneview Park.

Goals from Joe Gormley and Shea Gordon gave the away side a 2-0 lead before James Doona halved the Reds lead in the 71st minute.

“Really pleased with the performance,” McDonnell told BBC Sport NI.

“I thought we were fantastic, unfortunately for all the good play we weren’t able to capitalise.

“Intensity, urgency, tempo and control was ten-fold compared to last week and I thought overall we were more like what we want the team to look like."

Glenavon still await their first points of the season after an opening day defeat against Carrick Rangers with this result now meaning that they haven't beaten Cliftonville in their last 16 meetings.

"We are still bedding in new players, no one ever hits the ground running in the first game of the season and we feel like we are getting to the levels we expect," he explained.

"The message to the players is now that they have found a new level in the new season, in particular the second half, and can they sustain that?

"That is how we want to play, we want it to be very difficult for teams to play here and ultimately, we want to be picking up points."