Kearney seeking home comforts against Glentoran

COLERAINE manager Oran Kearney targets all three points as the Bannsiders welcome Glentoran to The Showgrounds (KO 3pm)…

The Stripes retained their five point lead at the top of the Danske Bank Premiership last weekend as Joe McCready’s second-half winner was enough to give a gutsy Coleraine all three points at Solitude. The squad was tested as Darren McCauley and David Ogilby were withdrawn at half-time, but the Bannsiders put in a heroic defensive performance to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

Glentoran remain the only side in the league to have taken points off Coleraine this season after the goalless draw at The Oval in September. Following Josh Carson’s first-half dismissal, Gary Haveron’s side were presented with the opportunity to earn all three points with a stoppage time penalty-kick, but John McGuigan failed to hit the target as Coleraine earned a deserved share of the spoils. The East Belfast side were victorious in the league last weekend against Dungannon Swifts, but suffered a midweek defeat to Ballymena United in the County Antrim Shield.

Stripes boss Oran Kearney will be without the services of Lyndon Kane, Brad Lyons, Eoin Bradley and James McLaughlin for tomorrow’s fixture. However, latest signing Martin Smith has received his international clearance and is available to play after getting 90 minutes in the North-West Cup final defeat to Institute.

“We know that we will be in for a stiff test tomorrow,” Kearney said.

“The games between the two sides are genuinely quite tight and it was the same earlier on in the season.

“I think the main difference this season is that Glentoran now have two recognised strikers in Robbie McDaid and Curtis Allen.

“Gary has been more adventurous in that regards and that partnership will only get better.

“The previous encounter was a tough tough day for us. We had 10 men for 70 minutes after Josh Carson’s dismissal, so hopefully this time we can keep 11 men on the pitch.

“This game is simply about getting another three points and we have been driving that hard into the players.

“I would have taken a point last week against Cliftonville after the run they were on and our injuries.

“However, we need to be more pro-active at home and we have had a proud record for the last 18 months or so.”

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

Home supporters are reminded that they can only the ground with a valid season ticket/matchday card. The club shop will be open from 9am tomorrow for supporters to top-up/obtain a matchday card.