Coleraine must raise the bar again, says Kearney
ORAN Kearney has told his title-chasing Coleraine team that they must do “whatever it takes” to keep the pressure on leaders Linfield at the top of the Danske Bank Premiership.
And after admitting that the Bannsiders have been below par in their last two games, the boss is also challenging his players to bring their A-game when they face Cliftonville this afternoon.
Victory for Coleraine would, temporarily at least, close the gap on Linfield to four points as David Healy’s men face Portadown in the late kick-off and with the number of matches remaining only just in double figures, each game is increasing in importance.
“The performance from us against Crusaders (when Coleraine won 2-0) was the level that we need to be at,” said Kearney.
“Our last two performances, against Carrick last Saturday, wasn’t at that level and if I’m honest the first half against Glenavon on Tuesday wasn’t at that level.
“Our own concerns are that of ensuring that we get back to 90-minute performances of where the bar has been set by that Crusaders performance.
“That’s the thing that I am trying to make sure we kick on from.”
While performances may be paramount, points, naturally, are the main priority.
Coleraine have lost the fewest amount of games in the league and despite coming under pressure from a hugely-impressive Glenavon team on Tuesday night, they managed to fight back to stretch their unbeaten run to 17 games.
That game also tested the Bannsiders’ resilience and Kearney, who won the league as a player with Linfield, is well aware that those kinds of qualities are also crucial in successful teams.
“We know we have so many games left, it’s just a matter of trying to eke everything we can out of every game,” he said.
“It could have slipped away from us at Glenavon and the only credit I give to the players is that number one they hung in there and number two they showed a bit of character to get back into the game.
“It takes character at this stage of the season. I have said to the players that the first 12 or 15 games of the season it’s easy to rattle out performances, the last 10 or 12 games a lot of them are like the Glenavon game and it’s about flashes of quality and bits of brilliance like Stephen Lowry produced on the night.
“I have told the players to get used to it — and I say that every year at this stage — and be ready to just do whatever it takes to get over the line and win games.”
Having two matches in hand on Linfield means that there will be no let-up in the hectic schedule for Kearney’s men. Eight games in 29 days between now and the end of April is something he is happy to embrace — particularly if it has a happy ending in terms of silverware.
“There is a happy medium and I think yes, we should be playing because we’re delighted to be out playing football,” he said.
“It’s mad, it’s just mad, but we’re privileged to be part of football and long may it last.”