McAree praises defensive solidity

COLERAINE boss Rodney McAree blew a sigh of relief as he watched his side pick up all three points against Glentoran at The Showgrounds…

The Bannsiders missed two second-half spot kicks via Jamie McGonigle and Dean Shiels, but Eoin Bradley arrived from the bench to power home a third penalty.

The victory was sealed late on as Ben Doherty pounced from close range as Coleraine cut the gap on fourth-placed Glenavon to three points.

“It was eventful and I do not think I have ever been involved in a game were we get three penalty kicks,” McAree said.

“The players deserve credit and listen, penalties are there to be missed as well and people have to be brave to show the courage to step up and hit them.

“It is not like Jamie McGonigle or Dean Shiels to miss but thankfully we got a third penalty and Skinner does what he does best – put the ball in the back of the net.

“I am delighted with the three points and for the players.

“I do not think we were far away in the first half I thought we just needed to tidy up a little and do things quicker.

“We started the second half well and forced Glentoran onto the back foot which resulted in Calum Birney getting sent off for a hand ball.

“The boys seemed to think the pitch was a factor in the first two penalties and they said when they planted their foot the turf lifted from underneath them.

“Players will always find something but at the end of the day it is 12 yards out and you aim to work the keeper.

“I know that is what the boys were trying and you can not really blame anyone for missing a penalty.”

McAree was delighted to see his players register a clean sheet as well as welcoming back captain Stephen O’Donnell into the starting eleven.

“You do get slightly nervous when you miss the two penalties because in our previous two games we have conceded seven goals so when you miss you kind of think it is inviting them on which can cause problems,” he added.

“To be fair, having Stephen O’Donnell back in the team gave us a bit of a platform and belief defensively.

“It was also great to have Burnsy back but we did not want to push him too much and leave him on too long incase an injury reoccurred.

“I thought Gareth McConaghie was much better beside Stevie and we deserved our clean sheet.

“We addressed things on tactic boards and amongst the group and we spoke about how we need to get tighter when the ball gets closer to our goal and I thought today we did that.

“Chris Johns made one save from Curtis Allen in the first half and that was the only dangerous effort.”

McAree heaped praise on Eoin Bradley’s contribution from the bench as the striker slammed home his seventh goal of the season.

“Skinner is Skinner and if you can get a good ball in to him he can hurt you,” he concluded.

“Sometimes he does not get the protection he needs off the referee.

“He is a big lad and when he goes to ground he does not get the decisions that he ultimately deserves.

“He did really well today and last week when he came on and fair play to him because it can be difficult when you are sitting on the bench watching games.”