McAree: ‘It looked like we threw the towel in’

COLERAINE manager Rodney McAree couldn’t hide his disappointment as the Bannsiders were heavily beaten by Glenavon last night…

Andrew Mitchell’s first-half double had the Lurgan Blues well on their way before further strikes from Mark Sykes and Jordan Jenkins secured all three points for the home side.

It marks a fifth league defeat for the Stripes who remain in sixth position in the table.

Speaking after the game, boss McAree believes his squad aren’t competing as a team.

“I thought we were very good for the first 20 or 25 minutes, we’ve had the better of the opportunities, been the better team but you’ve got to score when you’re on top,” he said.

“We had a few chances but due to a lack of confidence with a few players we probably haven’t overly worked Jonny Tuffey.

“However after 25 minutes it was an absolute disgrace and we weren’t good enough as a collective. It’s not just the players; it’s the changing room as we all have to take responsibility for the performance.

“There wasn’t a part of the game after 25 minutes that we made a tackle and it looked like we threw the towel in collectively in certain areas and individuals continued to keep going.

“We looked like a team of individuals, rather than a team united and that has to improve.”

McAree has challenged the squad to assess their own performance ahead of a busy run of fixtures.

“I think we have to get in, regroup and realise it’s not good enough as we shouldn’t come to Glenavon and get beat 4-0,” he added.

“It could have been six or seven to be honest but whenever you get a beating like that you have to regroup and everyone will be hurting.

“Everyone will have to go and assess their performance, like I’ll go away and assess the decisions that I have made.

“I expected things to go better when I took the job but things haven’t gone as well as you’d have hoped for so far.

“We can do all the crying we want about the injuries we have sustained but at the end of the day, there’s nothing that beats a wee bit of competitiveness, endeavour and hard work.”

The Bannsiders completed their first piece of business through the week as midfielder Jamie Glackin put pen-to-paper on a two-and-a-half-year contract.

McAree believes the former Dungannon Swifts man will give his all when he is eligible to compete next month.

“January is a hard month to bring players in but Jamie’s a big plus,” he concluded.

“He brings energy, flair, hard work and gives everything that he has.

“That’s important and I think we have to get that out of every player who crosses the white line.”