McCrudden relishing busy schedule

MICHAEL McCrudden insists the Bannsiders will travel to the Newry Showgrounds full of confidence this evening…

The Stripes have kept seven consecutive clean sheets in the Danske Bank Premiership and travel to the Newry Showgrounds looking to keep tabs on the teams above them in the standings.

However, the 31-year-old knows they will have to be at their best to get the better of Darren Mullen’s side.

“Newry is always a tough place to go,” he said.

“We’ll have to go full of confidence as we’ve been playing really well.

“It’s the next game and hopefully we can go and get the win.

“With the busy schedule at present, I’m just coming to training, going home and chilling – nothing too mad.”

Coleraine reached the sixth round of the Samuel Gelston’s Whiskey Irish Cup last weekend after coming from behind to defeat Loughgall at The Showgrounds.

Despite being behind at the interval, McCrudden acknowledged that no panic buttons were pressed by players or management as goals from Conor McKendry, Matthew Shevlin and McCrudden himself set-up a clash against Cliftonville in the next round.

“We are delighted with the win as it could have been a banana skin,” he added.

“After being 1-0 down at half-time and then coming back to win 3-1, we’re delighted to be in the hat for the next round.

“Their goal was against the run of play to be fair but there’s always that wee worry when you’re not putting your chances away that they might go up the other end and get one and that’s what they did.

“Just before half-time, too, which makes it ten times harder but we came out in the second half and started well.

“I’ve been in changing rooms before where it’s all ra, ra, ra and there’s no method to what you need to go out and do.

“Oran is chilled and tells you what you need to do and it’s up to us to go out and implement it and thankfully we did.”