Larne boss Tiernan Lynch says they have to take Sunday’s 2-1 defeat by Portadown “firmly on the chin”.

It was another setback for the champions, coming three days after a 4-1 defeat by Shamrock Rovers in the Uefa Conference League.

It also leaves the Inver Reds with just one point from their last three league games as they slipped to ninth in the standings.

“It’s really easy for me to come here and start blaming people, blaming fixtures or blaming the players but I don’t think that’s what it’s all about,” he said.

“Collectively we take our medicine today. There’s some things that we’re doing really well and there’s some things we’re doing not so well and it’s hurting us at the moment.

“We just have to stay together, roll up our sleeves, take these things firmly on the chin and try to put them right.

“Ultimately it is about what we do about it. You can shy away from this but I don’t think that’s going to be our form.”

Aaron McCarey’s own goal gave the visitors the lead but Eamon Fyfe levelled for the Ports before Shay McCartan’s brilliant strike from his own half won it two minutes from time.

“We never took our chances, we didn’t create enough chances and we conceded stupid goals,” added Lynch.