COLERAINE head coach Dean Shiels says a combination of a poor start, missed first-half chances and a below-par second-half performance was the catalyst for their defeat at Crusaders this afternoon…

The Bannsiders fell behind with barely a minute on the clock as Jay Boyd lashed home from an inviting position inside the box.

Coleraine were guilty of squandering big chances thereafter as Matthew Shevlin, Rhyss Campbell and Declan McManus all had sights of goal, with the aforementioned Shevlin also seeing a header clip the crossbar.

However, Crusaders were dominant after the half-time whistle and secured the victory as Boyd completed a hat-trick with two further goals.

“The start was so poor and they didn’t have to work for it,” Shiels said.

“They didn’t cut us open, it was a long ball, but we didn’t deal with it and then we were chasing.

“Last week we didn’t start overly great against Larne but our response to that was brilliant.

“Our performance today in the first-half was as good as we have played going forward and chances created but we weren’t ruthless enough.

“It was similar to the Larne game last week where we got in behind and created so many close moments near the opponent’s box but we didn’t do enough.

“However, in the second-half Crusaders were the better team if I’m being honest.”

The day was compounded late on after captain Lyndon Kane had to be substituted with a nasty looking shoulder injury after being fouled by Philip Lowry.

When asked for a medical update, Shiels replied: “I think it’s dislocated and I don’t see him being back before the end of the season.

“We’ve been so good in the last three or four months in terms of keeping a settled team but that’s completely changed now due to injuries and different reasons.

“We will miss Lyndon but it’s the next man up and that’s what a squad is for.”