Warrenpoint packed with quality and will avoid the drop: McDonnell
WARRENPOINT manager Stephen McDonnell is confident his side’s quality will shine through in the relegation battle.
While the Irish League title race is extremely exciting, it’s also intriguing at the other end of the Danske Bank Premiership with just seven points separating Ards at the foot of table and fifth bottom Institute.
Seventh-placed Glentoran made a fine start to the season but, after a dreadful run of form, are now just two points clear of Institute.
Warrenpoint, in ninth, have had a rollercoaster campaign, losing their first six league matches and then going unbeaten in five. Most recently they have drawn 1-1 away to Linfield and Glenavon and at home to Dungannon Swifts.
McDonnell’s easy on the eye side today host sixth-placed Coleraine, who will be without suspended striker Eoin Bradley.
Speaking about the fight to avoid the drop, McDonnell stated that over the course of the season he feels he has the players to stay up.
“It’s interesting for the neutral. There is nobody dead and buried, and if anyone says there are teams like that they are mental,” said straighttalking Town boss McDonnell.
“I still believe we are packed with quality and I think we will show that over 38 games. I think we’ll stay up and that is the aim for us. We have taken something from our last three games and played well.
“I’m more of a performance manager at the moment. I haven’t got the pressures of winning leagues or anything. And results will come if performances are right. I very much want the performance and the result to follow.
“Sometimes it may not follow but that would be on a rare occasion. I think we are building nicely.” On facing the challenge of Rodney McAree’s Bannsiders, who have been improving of late, McDonnell added: “Coleraine are a good outfit but we just have to go and play our own game. We’ll treat them with the respect they deserve and respect their qualities but we always stick to what we believe in. That is the most important thing for us.”
McAree was disappointed not to put a third league win in a row on the board last weekend against Glentoran despite playing the second half with 10 men due to Bradley’s dismissal for showing dissent to the referee.
Not for the first time in recent weeks, Darren McAuley was on form netting in the 1-1 home draw.
“We should have won it and walked away from the match Sure thing: Warrenpoint Town boss Stephen McDonnell
feeling frustrated,” said McAree (left), who this week agreed a two and a half year contract extensions with defender Aaron Canning and Gareth McConaghie.