‘A game’ required – Carson

COLERAINE midfielder Josh Carson insists the Bannsiders will have to be at their best if they are to beat Glenavon this evening…

The Stripes have failed to beat the Lurgan Blues since March 2020 but they will hope to bring that run to an end at The Showgrounds tonight.

Carson remarked that the Stripes have never had an easy game against Gary Hamilton’s side and is expecting more of the same under the lights.

“You only have to look at our results against them last season – we weren’t good enough,” he said.

“We didn’t beat them so we know it’s going to be really tough and they strengthened over the summer.

“It’s been well documented that they’ve had four sent off in their last two games but it’s not going to be an easy game and it never is.

“We are looking forward to the game, we will relish it but we have to bring our A game to get all three points.”

Coleraine made it a hat-trick of successive wins in the Premiership at Carrick Rangers on Tuesday night, with Carson admitting that he loves playing in midfield alongside Lyndon Kane and Lee Lynch.

“I thought we were brilliant in the first-half, we knocked it about well, moved about well, won our battles and picked up first and second balls,” he added.

“We were 2-0 up but conceded a penalty on the stroke of half-time which isn’t ideal and made Oran’s team talk a bit different.

“However, it was all about going out in the second-half and trying to replicate what we did in the first-half and I think we were able to do that.

“Thankfully, we got an early third goal through Matthew to get the ball rolling.

“We came under a bit of pressure but the save from Marty (Gallagher) was different class, it really keeps us in the game because they would have momentum with 20, 25 minutes left and he pulls off an outrageous save that he has no right to make at all.

“And then me and Lyndon (Kane) clearing one off the line is just us doing our jobs, we’re meant to be there and thankfully we were, otherwise we would have got it in the ear afterwards!

“We came under a bit of pressure but thankfully we sucked it up and done well and went on and got the fourth goal.

“I love playing in the middle of the park with Lyndon and Lee.

“There’s a lot of legs, a lot of energy, a bit of bite and nastiness but we can knock it about too.

“We have shown that in the last three games so long may that continue.”

The former Northern Ireland international was full of praise for Matthew Shevlin’s recent contribution as the striker has netted five goals in his last two games.

“I’m over the moon for him,” concurred Carson.

“Every time we leave the changing room I always say to him, ‘come on, another goal, another goal, keep hitting the target, keep getting yourself in there’.

“In fairness to him, he’s been in there and amongst the goals, and for us it’s happy days.

“If he’s going to stick the ball in the net regularly then it saves me doing it!”