Curtain Call

COLERAINE conclude their Danske Bank Premiership campaign with a home clash against Linfield (KO 3pm)…

The Bannsiders recorded their first win in six matches on Easter Tuesday as a hat-trick from Jamie McGonigle and a solitary strike from Jamie Glackin helped ease to a win over Crusaders at The Showgrounds. As for Linfield, they returned to winning ways with an emphatic 5-1 win over Cliftonville at Windsor Park.

This will be the fourth time the two sides have clashed this season and the first ended in a 0-0 draw in what was Rodney McAree’s first game in charge. A few months later, Coleraine registered a 2-1 win at the National Stadium, with the third fixture going the way of David Healy’s troops who recovered from two goals down to win 3-2.

Coleraine boss Rodney McAree will be without the services of Lyndon Kane, Aaron Traynor, Aaron Burns, Stephen Lowry and Alexander Gawne through injury. Furthermore, striker James McLaughlin misses out after accumulating five yellow cards, but Stephen O’Donnell and Adam Mullan are available after serving their suspensions.

McAree concedes that he has one eye on the upcoming Europa League play-off, but insists he and his players will do their ‘upmost’ to bank all three points.

“We have to prepare for the play-off,” he said.

“It will be a case of seeing who is carrying a knock, or who is near a suspension, but we have Adam Mullan and Stephen O’Donnell now available to us.

“It will be as strong as team as we can put out onto the pitch and we will be doing our upmost to win the game.”

As ever, those unable to attend can follow the latest developments via the club’s official Twitter account (@ColeraineFC).

Supporters are reminded that entry is via valid matchday cards/season tickets only.