Coleraine must start doing it for McAree, says Lowry
MIDFIELDER Stephen Lowry insists the players owe new Coleraine boss Rodney McAree a big performance in today’s showdown with Glenavon at the Ballycastle Road Showgrounds.
The former Dungannon Swifts chief is still looking for his first win after succeeding Oran Kearney, although he is still undefeated after three games.
Draws against Linfield, Ballymena United and most recently Newry City have resulted in the Bannsiders slipping seven points adrift of Glenavon, the Danske Bank Premiership table-toppers.
Although Coleraine haven’t tasted a league defeat since November 2017 — when losing to Linfield at Windsor Park — their last league victory was the sensational 3-0 success against Crusaders at Seaview early last month, which was Kearney’s last in charge before he departed for St Mirren.
Little wonder Lowry and his team-mates are busting a gut to put things right.
“It’s not an ideal situation — we don’t know how to win games and we don’t know how to lose them,” he said. “We are a bit frustrated. But the fact that we have managed to stay unbeaten says a lot about the team.
“I thought we were a bit unlucky at Newry last week. On another day, I could have had a hat-trick. It’s just the way it goes sometimes. It’s not the end of the world.”
Losing such an influential character as Kearney was always going to have an effect on the club, but Lowry believes McAree (right) is the perfect replacement.
“When a new boss comes in, there is bound to be a little transitional period,” said former Linfield man Lowry. “We have to get to know Rod and he has to get to know us.
“It’s a bedding in process for both parties. Rod was glad to get back onto the training pitch this week — he had a good chat with us. The way I see it is when a new manager comes in, there are always going to be changes. I think at the start, the thing (team performances) wasn’t broken, so he didn’t want to tamper with it.
“But the fact that we now haven’t been winning games, Rod is now starting to put his own stamp on things.
“The training in midweek was a lot more intense. Yes, it takes a wee bit of time to bed in, but personally I think it’s a great appointment.
“Rod’s a super guy and a super manager. He’ll do well at Coleraine. I hope we, the players, can just repay him and start putting wins on the board.”
Lowry reckons the clash with Glenavon is the perfect platform the Bannsiders need to kick-start their campaign.
“It’s ideal,” he said. “In fact, the next three matches are massive — Glenavon, Crusaders and Cliftonville. But I’d rather play against the top sides rather than the teams at the bottom of the table. I can see both sides going for it — both like to attack. Glenavon are doing well. “They have been the stand-out team so far along with Linfield.
“They’ll probably come and have a go at us, looking for a result. On the day, they are beatable, just like any team.
“It will be a tough game, but one we are relishing.”
Even though the Bannsiders are playing catch-up, Lowry insists it’s too early in the campaign to be looking at the league table.
He added: “We are still only a few points behind despite the run of drawn results — we’ll not be pressing the alarm button.
“We’ve had quite a lot of injures so far and Skinner (Eoin Bradley) has been suspended. We are working off a light squad and it’s stretched at the minute.
“A few wins and we are right back in the mix again.
“The boys are all looking to put things right and if we start taking our chances, I’ve no doubt we will do that and start climbing the table.”
• Northern Ireland women’s Under-19 side were held 0-0 by Kosovo at Shamrock Park last night.