Kearney looking for level of application

COLERAINE boss Oran Kearney insists he is looking for his players to hit the required application levels as they face Larne tomorrow afternoon…

The Bannsiders lost for the first time in the Premiership on Tuesday night as two first-half goals were enough for Carrick Rangers to run out 2-0 victors at the Loughview Leisure Arena.

Instead of looking for his side to provide a reaction, Kearney has called on his troops to return to the Coleraine side he has been accustomed to in recent times.

“I’m not even looking a reaction to be honest because there’s a level when you play for Coleraine and there’s a level of expectation, there’s a level of attitude and application and everything that’s on the pitch,” he said.

“We don’t want reactions – we want that level of application the whole time.

“In simple terms, all I want on Saturday is that we go back to the Coleraine that played against Loughgall and the Coleraine that played against Ballymena and the Coleraine that’s been the Coleraine for quite a period of time.

“Tuesday night for me is an anomaly.

“I’ve got to be fair to the players and say they’re only human and it’s very rare I stand out here and have to have a conversation like this.

“I’ll not need to say anything to the lads on Saturday.

“I fully expect that we’ll get right back on it on Saturday again.”

The Stripes will be without the services of Jamie Glackin through suspension but Kearney believes this will give an opportunity to another player in the squad to stake a claim.

He added: “I think when you’re making a challenge or when it’s a clumsy tackle in the box, the least you’re going to get, generally, is a card.

“The second one, I think, he goes to ground but he’s adamant that he puts the brakes on and pulls out of it and believes that Jack has made the contact.

“Again, I’m not sure until we see it back.

“There’s no way of appealing it anyway as it was two yellows, so, we’ll just have to take our medicine.

“It’s the repercussions, not just the damage that it’s done for the last 30 minutes on Tuesday night, it’s also planning ahead for Saturday.

“But it will give an opportunity for someone else to step up and stake that claim.”