Showgrounds Warr

COLERAINE return to Danske Bank Premiership action tomorrow afternoon as they welcome Warrenpoint Town to The Showgrounds (KO 3pm)…

Danske Bank Premiership

Overview:

Coleraine come into the fixture on the back of two successive wins against Carrick Rangers and Glentoran. The Bannsiders would pick up all three points from their visit to the Belfast Loughshore Hotel Arena as goals from Eoin Bradley, Caolan Loughran (own goal), Aaron Jarvis and Aaron Traynor sealed a 4-1 win. On Tuesday night, Glentoran made the trip to the Ballycastle Road and were reduced to 10 men in the first-half as James McCarthy was dismissed for a second bookable offence. It took until the second-half for the Stripes to make their numerical advantage count as Jamie Glackin and Ben Doherty put Coleraine 2-0 ahead, before Navid Nasseri reduced the arrears to a single goal as Oran Kearney’s men progressed to the quarter-final stage of the competition. Warrenpoint will come to The Showgrounds full of relief after staging a remarkable comeback to earn their first league points of the season as they edged out Dungannon Swifts 4-3 at Milltown.

Recent meetings:

Coleraine and Warrenpoint Town met each other on three occasions last season with the Bannsiders winning the first 3-0 at The Showgrounds on the opening day of the season. However the reverse fixture was won by the ‘Point as Robbie Norton’s penalty was enough to earn all three points at Milltown. In the final meeting, the fixture looked certain to end in a draw, until Jamie McGonigle popped up with a late winner.

Team News:

Coleraine boss Oran Kearney will be without the services of captain Stephen O’Donnell who remains injured. At the other end of the pitch, there is a boost as Nedas Maciuliaitis is available to return after missing the League Cup win over Glentoran due to being cup tied, with James McLaughlin also in contention to be included in the matchday squad alongside Aaron Traynor.

Manager’s Thoughts:

“Warrenpoint will come here cock-a-hoop after getting the monkey off their backs,” Kearney said.

“If the game against Glentoran doesn’t teach us a lesson that anything can happen and that football is a strange game, well then we have to make sure we learn from that and take that into tomorrow’s game.”

Admission:

Supporters are reminded that entry is via valid matchday cards/season tickets only.

Admission for using a matchday card is £12 adults, £8 concessions.

As ever, those unable to attend can follow the latest developments from the fixture via the club’s official Twitter account (@ColeraineFC).