Captain’s Column

COLERAINE skipper Stephen O’Donnell apologised for the lack of a column last week but was delighted to secure a first win under Rodney McAree…

Hopefully last week’s column wasn’t missed too much. It was a busy week for me personally and the column fell victim to that. I know there have been a few questions about it recently and it was good for me to hear some feedback from people about what they thought about the column. Some people like it and some people don’t. That’s fine. Like most things in life, you can’t please everyone. As long as it is a positive addition to your weekly match build up, I’m happy to continue to give an insight into the changing room and our mentality, as long as the manager wants me to.

Looking back to last Saturday, it was fantastic to finally get that first win under Rodney. It’s nothing less than he deserves. Since he came in he has been fantastic and has been working really hard to try and get both his ideas across and wins on the board at the same time. So for us to finally deliver three points, a clean sheet and that all important win was great for him. It was also great for you as fans. There has been a feeling of frustration over the last number of weeks and that is understandable. Results haven’t been what we’re used to, and we have been just as frustrated as you. Hopefully Saturday was a good way of paying you back for a tough couple of weeks and we can start to generate that momentum again that served us so well in the past. Saturday was also great for the boys. They have been working hard over the last couple of weeks were it has been tough not getting the results and performances we wanted. To get that real buzz and winning feeling back on a Saturday was brilliant and it was sorely missed. Hopefully we can put a new run together, where we get everyone pulling in the same direction and get a real buzz back into the club.

Saturday’s performance was as complete a performance as we’ve produced since we played Linfield at home. It’s the first time in a number of weeks were we have played well for 90 minutes. We’ve threatened to do it in previous games, but it finally came together on Saturday and hopefully that can be a platform for us going forward. Of course there were times when Crusaders dominated the game. Particularly in the first 15 minutes and the last 15 minutes. But that happens at some stage in all games and it’s about managing your performance to make sure that during those tough spells, you stick together and get through them to win the game. We done that extremely well on Saturday and I think you’ll appreciate that everyone put in a big shift off the ball and stood up to everything that Crusaders threw at us. Chris Johns made a wonderful save at the end and his decision making in those last 15 minutes was fantastic. He took the pressure off us by coming for crosses and corners and that makes a world of difference when you’re under pressure. I thought Jamie McGonigle was fantastic and he put in a real shift, to prove to everyone how much he wants to play for this side and how hard he is willing to work. Jamie was struggling fitness wise this week but played through it for the boys to make sure we got that win. The boys all appreciate how hard he worked, and he has set the bar for his performance levels moving forward and I’ve no doubt that if he keeps working like that he will be back amongst the goals before you know it. It was also fantastic to see Josh Carson back in the side on Saturday. Having missed the last seven, it was unbelievable for him to come back in and play 90 minutes against Crusaders. Not that by the end I don’t think there was an option to bring him off, but Josh didn’t mind one bit. It shows how good a professional he is and how well he looks after himself that he can step straight in after being out for six weeks, play 90 minutes and put in a top-quality performance as well. Josh is one of those players that lifts players around him. When he plays well, he drags the rest of the boys along with him. We’ve maybe missed a bit of that recently, but I was delighted to see him back on Saturday and I know how hungry he is to do well.

A special mention must go to Adam Mullan. 150 appearances for Coleraine and he has only just turned 23. That’s a brilliant achievement and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. It shows how much trust Oran had placed in Adam in his early years of senior football and shows how well he has improved as a player. You don’t get 150 appearances for a top club like Coleraine if you’re not a top player. He can play anywhere across the back and I think that his performances sometimes go unnoticed. For me he is a fantastic defender who will only get better and better as he matures and gets older. Well done Biton, here’s to 150 more! Another note from the weekend was the contrasting fortunes of big James. I had written a few weeks ago how great it was to see him back. Starting again on Saturday was a big milestone for him and unfortunately it didn’t end the way any of us would have wanted. It’s disappointing for him to pick up an injury, but I know James will work hard to get back fit as soon as possible. We’re all frustrated for James but I know that a couple of weeks will be easy in comparison to that injury from last year. It may just be James’ body’s way of getting used to the demands again, but I know he will be back sooner rather than later and I can’t wait to have him back fit and firing again.

Looking to this weekend and we play Cliftonville at home. A familiar opponent who we have played many times in the last 18 months. We know them, and they know us. Saturday is about replicating the performance that we put in against Crusaders and making sure that we work hard first and foremost and then get our quality players on the ball to try and win us the game. As a back four we know what we’re coming up against. Two quality strikers who can win games on their own. If we can win that battle against those two, we can win the game. Work hard. Win our battles and we will win the game.

I look forward to seeing you all at The Showgrounds on Saturday. Hopefully we can get it packed and create a real buzz to try and start a new run together.

C‘mon the Bannsiders!

Stephen O’Donnell