COLERAINE and Glenavon meet for the third time this season as the Bannsiders chase another valuable three points (KO 3pm)…

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Overview:

Coleraine picked up a second Premiership win in succession last weekend, courtesy of a 2-0 victory against Portadown at The Showgrounds. A goal in each half from Ronan Doherty and Jamie Glackin guided the Bannsiders to victory as they remained 8th in the table. Head coach Dean Shiels will have Dean Jarvis available from suspension but Lyndon Kane misses out after accumulating his fifth yellow card last weekend.

Glenavon are in a good run of form and that continued on Tuesday night as they beat Loughgall at Lakeview Park. Paddy McLaughlin’s men triumphed against their Mid-Ulster neighbours as Chris Atherton and Jack Malone found the back of the net in a 2-0 success. The Lurgan Blues are 9th in the standings, three points behind Coleraine.

Previous Meetings:

Glenavon took the spoils in the first meeting between the sides back in August at The Showgrounds. The Lurgan Blues caught the Bannsiders cold as with two minutes played Niall Quinn’s shot from just outside of the penalty was defected into the back of the net by ex-Bannsider Davy McDaid to make it 1-0. Gareth Deane had a first-half to remember in the Glenavon goal as he made two world-class saves to thwart Cameron Stewart and Mackenzie Carse. Four minutes into the second half Glenavon doubled their advantage as Keith Ward pounced on an individual error, ran forward and finished into the bottom left from just outside the box to record a 2-0 victory.

Coleraine and Glenavon would then play out a 3-3 thriller at Mourneview Park in November as the Bannsiders somehow didn’t leave Mid-Ulster with all three points. The visitors found themselves two goals to the good with 13 minutes played when Rhyss Campbell and Jamie Glackin both fired into the net. Just after Davy McDaid halved the arrears, Coleraine restored their two-goal cushion almost instantly as Glackin’s deep free-kick picked out Cameron Stewart and the towering defender found the back of the net for his first goal since arriving in the summer. However, Glenavon produced a late comeback as McDaid netted from the spot with around 15 minutes to go, with sustained pressure then leading to a stoppage-time equaliser from Matthew Snoddy.

Head coach’s Thoughts:

“They’ve picked up really well and they’ve got good players,” Shiels said.

“It’s a really difficult place to go…it’ll definitely have its challenges.

“We will need to be on it to get something from it.

“We know it’s a long, long time since we won there, so we are hoping to put that to bed this weekend.

“There should be added motivation because we were so good in that game in November.

“I think going 3-1 up and we played some of the best football we have done in the first-half.

“We were outstanding and then we didn’t seem to see the game out by possibly lacking that experience and know-how.”

Officials:

The match referee will be Steven Gregg.

The assistant referees are Stephen Donaldson and Brian Wilson.

Mark Dillon has been appointed as the fourth official.

Admission:

Coleraine supporters are advised that they require tickets to enter the ground which can be bought HERE.

We would urge supporters to arrive at the ground in good time and respect residents and businesses in terms of parking your vehicle.

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