Paddy McLaughlin refused to be drawn on the root cause of the tension that threatened to spill over during Cliftonville’s 2-0 win over Carrick Rangers on Saturday.
The 42-year-old’s team were in total control of the game midway through the second half at Solitude, thanks to goals from strikers Paul O’Neill and Ryan Curran.
But a row seemed to ignite from nowhere involving players and some heated exchanges on the sidelines carried on for several minutes before settling down into a low simmer for the remainder of the game.
Asked about the angry scenes after the game, Cliftonville boss McLaughlin said: “It was just the usual old nonsense on the line.
“I think decisions and what happens in the game, with the intensity and adrenaline and everything else that comes with it... it can spill over sometimes.
"I don't think there is any bad blood between both teams or dugouts. It was just the intensity of both sides. There was nothing in it."
After the game, Cliftonville defender Conor McDermott - who recently opened up about his problems with a gambling addiction that left him at rock bottom – tweeted the following on social media.
He wrote: “Great win today, clean sheet and first assist of the season.
"Disappointed to hear the comments of some, the stigma of mental health will never be broken whilst certain people are still childish enough to make such comments.”
On the game itself, McLaughlin was happy to see his bold team selection payoff as Cliftonville’s attacking trident of O’Neill, Curran and Joe Gormley proved too hot to handle for the visitors.
“They’ve got that much quality that you do expect them to score every time the chances come their way,” he said.
“We’re delighted to have them, they’re fully fit and they’re firing on all cylinders and hopefully they can continue that throughout the season.
“Paul O’Neill is just back from injury and scoring again which is good and Ryan is up there with the top goal scorers in the league at the moment.
“Joe also scored midweek (against Ballymena in the League Cup semi-finals) and it’s great to have all three scoring at this stage of the season.
“It’s great for the team that we have so many options.”
Curran is Cliftonville’s top scorer on 15 in all competitions while Gormley and O’Neill, who has recovered from injury, are on 11 and five respectively.
Saturday's 2-0 win over Carrick Rangers kept the Reds two points clear of Linfield and Glentoran, who both have a game in hand, at the top of the Danske Bank Premiership.
