League fixture the focus, says OK

COLERAINE make the trip to Cliftonville tomorrow afternoon for the first of three encounters against the same opposition over the next month (KO 3pm)…

Danske Bank Premiership

Overview:

The Bannsiders made it three successive wins in all competitions last Tuesday night as they saw off the challenge of Dungannon Swifts at The Showgrounds. A quick-fire brace of goals from Curtis Allen and Josh Carson did the damage in the first 45 minutes, with Lyndon Kane’s goal line saving clearance after the break also ensuring a hat-trick of clean sheets on the bounce. Oran Kearney’s men cut the gap on several teams above them in the table as they still occupy sixth spot in the standings.

Cliftonville come into the fixture on the back of two successive victories away to Carrick Rangers in the Irish Cup and Danske Bank Premiership. The Reds remain hot on the tail of Linfield and Glentoran in the chase for the Gibson Cup, with Paddy McLaughlin’s side also advancing in the Irish Cup and League Cup. It was a relatively quiet January transfer window in terms of arrivals at Solitude as Ruadhan McKenna and Mark Gallagher (on loan from Aberdeen) made the moves to North Belfast.

Previous meetings:

This will be the third meeting between the clubs – with Cliftonville winning the first back in August. After a goalless first-half, Coleraine almost carved out the opener as Eoin Bradley and Matthew Shevlin went close. However, the deadlock would be broken at the other end as Joe Gormley latched onto Jamie McDonagh’s superb delivery, before the win was secured two minutes later as Stephen O’Donnell scored an unfortunate own goal. The Stripes did manage to pull a goal back through Aaron Traynor but left North Belfast empty handed.

In November, the Reds would be the visitors to The Showgrounds in front of a bumper crowd on the North Coast. Once again, the first-half would end goalless despite both teams getting into dangerous positions. The game would spur into life with half an hour remaining as Eoin Bradley was introduced from the bench and he almost made a dramatic impact within sixty seconds when Josh Carson played him in and the striker’s dink over McNicholas bounced off the crossbar. At the other end, Cliftonville then had a great chance to break the deadlock. Gareth Deane signed a new contract on Friday and proved his worth on 78 minutes with a superb point blank save to keep out Johnny Addis after he had first hit the post. That proved to be the last meaningful action as a hard fought encounter ended scoreless.

Two further dates are pencilled in for clashes as Coleraine travel to Solitude for the quarter-final of the Samuel Gelston’s Whiskey Irish Cup (March 4), before the two lock horns in the BetMcLean League Cup final (March 13).

Manager’s Thoughts:

“We’re in a really good place as the last four or five games we’ve got our mojo back and we’re right back in the levels that we want to be,” Kearney said.

“It’s always a tough time when you go there.

“There’s a lot documented about the League Cup final and Irish Cup quarter-final and everything that goes with it, but there’s a huge number of games and water to go under the bridge before we get to that point.

“For us, it’s about going there on Saturday and trying to get three points.”

Officials:

The match referee will be Keith Kennedy.

The assistant referees are Andrew Nethery and George Argyropoulos.

Ross Dunlop has been selected as the fourth official.

Admission:

Coleraine supporters will require tickets for the fixture which can be purchased HERE.

If you are not feeling yourself tomorrow afternoon and you have symptoms which you feel are similar to COVID-19, please stay away from the stadium and think of others.

If you have access to a lateral flow/PCR test at home, we would encourage you to check yourself before coming to the game.

If you have been in contact with a positive case and haven’t yet been contacted by track and trace, please do not come to the game.

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