Matchday Guide: Institute

COLERAINE are expected to make changes as they face Institute in the quarter-final of the North-West Cup this evening (KO 7:45pm)…

North-West Senior Cup Quarter-Final

Overview:

The Bannsiders would lose on the road for the first time this season as a solitary goal from Conor McMenamin allowed Glentoran to pick up all three points last weekend. Coleraine had two or three opportunities to level the scoring but they would leave east Belfast empty-handed. That result means Oran Kearney’s men are currently fourth in the Premiership standings.

Institute come into the contest after a morale boosting 3-0 win against Dergview at Darragh Park. After a goalless first-half, Jamie Dunne would net twice and Cormac Burke’s penalty sealed Stute’s first victory of the campaign. Brian Donaghey’s side currently occupy 10th spot in the Championship standings and several former Coleraine players will return to The Showgrounds this evening.

Previous meetings:

Coleraine and Institute haven’t met in competitive action since the 2019-20 season – when both teams shared a win and the other ended in a draw.

The first contest was in August 2019 and defences would come out on top as the game finished scoreless at The Showgrounds. A red card to Eoin Bradley would halt the Bannsiders’ momentum as both teams had to settle for a share of the spoils.

In November of the same year, Coleraine travelled to the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium and they would find themselves two goals down at half-time as Shaun Leppard and Gareth Brown netted for the hosts. Despite making changes to get back into the contest, Coleraine would suffer defeat for a second time in quick succession.

A week after winning the BetMcLean League Cup, the Bannsiders would be on Foyleside looking to seek revenge for that defeat and they would surely make amends. A double from Aaron Canning had the Stripes 2-0 ahead at half-time before the game was put beyond doubt through strikes from Stephen O’Donnell and Josh Carson.

Manager’s Thoughts:

“It’s a busy week for the club,” said Kearney.

“We will move the squad about, we will train on Monday night and see who we can give a few minutes to.

“The big preparation will be Newry but the key thing is will be the response.”

Officials:

The match referee will be Gareth Stewart.

The assistant referees are Gary Ewing and Richard Hegarty.

Admission:

Both sets of encourage require tickets for the fixture which can be purchased HERE.

If you are not feeling yourself this 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).