Fourth time lucky

COLERAINE are aiming to recover from back-to-back defeats as Glentoran are the visitors to The Showgrounds (KO 3pm)…

The Stripes left Seaview empty handed last time out as goals from David Cushley (2), Colin Coates and Ronan Hale earned a 4-2 win for Crusaders. As for Glentoran, they will hope to bounce back from Monday night’s defeat to Glenavon as second-half goals from Gary Hamilton and Conor McCloskey condemned Gary Smyth’s side to a loss in front of the Sky cameras.

This will be the fourth time the two clubs have met this season and Coleraine will have a score to settle after being unsuccessful in the previous three attempts. The first was back in August as Eoin Bradley’s late header earned a 2-2 draw at The Oval, before the Bannsiders were eliminated from the League Cup in October via penalty-kicks. The final clash was back in November as Darren McCauley’s second-half finish salvaged a point for 10-man Coleraine.

Coleraine boss Rodney McAree welcomed Aaron Burns back into the matchday panel during the defeat against Crusaders, but he will still be without the services of Aaron Traynor, Lyndon Kane, Alexander Gawne and Josh Carson for the fixture. After conceding seven goals in our last two matches, boss McAree has demanded his players to ‘tidy up’ defensively.

“There are boys sitting itching to get back involved,” he concluded.

“Football is great because the next game comes around so fast.

“Glentoran have turned a corner and are starting to do well.

“They have an attacking threat but we will work on that.

“If we tidy up at the back and continue doing what we are doing going forward, then we will be alright.”

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.