Smart decisions vital, says OK

COLERAINE boss Oran Kearney has called on his players to make better in-game decisions as they face Linfield tomorrow afternoon…

The Bannsiders let two points go last weekend as they led Dungannon Swifts by two clear goals heading into second-half stoppage time.

However, 10-man Swifts would score two quick-fire goals to snatch a point and Kearney bemoaned certain decisions made by his players late on.

“It’s two of the biggest points dropped you’ll ever have,” he said following the game.

“It’s the ability to manage the latter parts of the game which we know we can do and that we’ve done 100 times.

“We’ve won a couple of games 2-1 this season and because it’s 11 vs 11 and there’s a few minutes left, we’re very game smart and aware of the scenario we find ourselves in.

“I think because they were down to 10-men for so long, even when they pulled it back, we still had that laissez-faire feeling of we can go and score a third here and have a gamble.

“Whereas for me, the alarm bells for me was that you really revert back to making sure that you’ve that mindset of going to the corner, winning a free-kick, a throw-in, or whatever it might be.

“Like a couple of our 2-1 wins this season, the ball shouldn’t come into our half in the last two minutes of the game.”

By the time a ball is kicked tomorrow, the summer transfer window will be closed and Kearney insists the club will always be active in terms of recruitment.

He further hopes to have several players back at his disposal following injury.

“Until the window shuts, you never say never,” he responded when asked about further incomings.

“I’ve seen lots of business happen in the last few days both ins and outs.

“We will keep our wits about us and see what happens.

“We’ve a few out at the this moment in time and hopefully we’re starting to move towards getting a few of those back.

“All teams will have that during the season, it’s part and parcel of football.

“It gives people opportunities and people have to grab those opportunities.”