Set for Seaview

COLERAINE continue a busy run of fixtures as they face Crusaders in the Danske Bank Premiership this evening (KO 7:45pm)… 

Danske Bank Premiership

Overview:

Coleraine come into the fixture after Friday night’s defeat to Cliftonville in the quarter-final of the Samuel Gelston’s Whiskey Irish Cup. The Bannsiders had taken the lead through Lyndon Kane’s finish but two goals after the break via Joe Gormley and Jamie McDonagh turned the game on its head. The Stripes will be pleased to have the services of Conor McKendry once again as they get set for a big week of action in the Premiership and BetMcLean League Cup.

Crusaders set-up a mouth-watering north Belfast derby in the semi-final of the Cup as they ran out 4-2 winners against Dungannon Swifts at Seaview. The Hatchetmen had been trailing 2-1 with half an hour to go but sealed their passage into the next round as Ben Kennedy and Jordan Owens (2) got on the scoresheet. Crusaders are currently 5th in the Premiership – four points ahead of Coleraine and with a game in hand on the Bannsiders.

Previous meetings:

Coleraine would make the trip to Crusaders earlier in the season as they pocketed all three points at Seaview back in October. A strong start by the visitors would be rewarded as Eoin Bradley’s turn and finish would find the bottom corner on ten minutes. The lead would be doubled just after the hour mark as Matthew Shevlin’s cross was headed into the net by the onrushing Josh Carson.

The Bannsiders would host Stephen Baxter’s side at The Showgrounds just before Christmas. Despite the first-half being a low key affair, the woodwork would be struck just four minutes after the restart as a neat passage of play resulted in Jordan Forsythe’s effort cannoning off the crossbar. On 54 minutes, the Bannsiders thought they had the made the breakthrough as a throw-in wasn’t cleared by the Crusaders defence and the ball landed at the feet of Josh Carson. The midfielder – who netted in the reverse fixture back in October – was unable to steer his strike on target. Kearney went to his bench to bring on James McLaughlin in a bid to take the lead but Stephen Baxter’s side would rue their luck as Gareth Deane made a superb stop to deny Declan Caddell, before Heatley arrowed over when well positioned inside the area. However, the chance of the game would arrive on 86 minutes as a superb delivery into the box by BJ Burns met Adam Lecky at the back post. The substitute looked destined to find the back of the net but his header went wide of the far post.

Manager’s Thoughts:

“I was pleased with our performance on Friday night and we want to keep hitting those heights,” he said.

“Crusaders are one of the teams above us in the league so we know we need a positive result to try and reel them in.

“They are always tight games between the two clubs and we’re expecting nothing different this time around.”

Officials:

The match referee will be Steven Gregg.

The assistant referees are George Argyropoulos and Gavin Hegarty.

Neil Robinson has been allocated as the fourth official.

Admission:

Coleraine supporters will require tickets to enter the ground which can be bought HERE.

If you are not feeling yourself this evening 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).