Tuesday Night Lights as Coleraine host Linfield

COLERAINE are back in action on Tuesday evening as they prepare to face Linfield at the Showgrounds (KO 7:45pm)…

By: Aaron O’Neill

The sides were due to play on New Year’s Day however the adverse weather conditions meant the game had to be postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

The Bannsiders are in tremendous form heading into the game as Oran Kearney’s men remain unbeaten in their last 11 league encounters – the most recent result being Saturday’s 2-0 away victory over Glentoran. The home side will be under no illusions heading into the game knowing that a win will see them leapfrog Crusaders back to top spot in the Danske Bank Premiership.

The sides have clashed on 2 occasions so far this season sharing a win apiece. The Stripes won in dramatic circumstances at the Showgrounds as they ran out 2-1 winners back in October. However, it was Linfield who inflicted the Bannsiders only defeat to date this season at Windsor Park in November. An under-par first-half performance meant Oran Kearney’s men found themselves trailing by 2 goals at the break, before a spirited second-half comeback could have salvaged a point.

Brad Lyons and Stephen Dooley will be injury doubts as the pair limped off in Saturday’s win over Glentoran – a game which allowed Lyndon Kane his first appearance for the Bannsiders in 7 months. Speaking ahead of tomorrow night’s fixture, Kane is expecting a ‘battle’ between the two sides.

“Linfield are Linfield and no matter where they sit in the league or how they have been playing, we know the quality they have in their team,” Kane said.

They will come down and give us a great test and a real battle.

“It will be a great game of football, and we hope that we can play our own game and come away with the 3 points.”

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

Supporters are reminded that season tickets/matchday cards will be the only valid way of entry. The Club will have a third turnstile with a scanner in operation.