Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WE’VE GOT YOU CORNERED
Set piece kings Coleraine Crues to Seaview win
COLERAINE striker Eoin Bradley insists Bann feet are firmly planted on the ground following Saturday’s statement win at Seaview.
Bradley and Stephen O’donnell were both on target as Oran Kearney’s men, who lost David Ogilby to a 63rd minute red card, made it maximum points from three games.
It was a stunning win against a Crues side heavily tipped for a title challenge this season.
But while Coleraine – who have also beaten Cliftonville (2-0) and Dungannon (3-1) – look destined to build on last year’s third place finish, Bradley is taking nothing for granted.
No point writing headlines on the Shore Road if you don’t back it up at home to newly promoted Warrenpoint Town on Friday evening.
The former Derry GAA star said: “We’re playing well and looking solid but we’ve only played three games. There’s a long way to go.
“People will be saying, ‘Coleraine are on the crest of a wave’ and the usual chit chat but there are still 35 league games to play.
“While it was a good result at Seaview, it’s only three points.
There’s no point beating Crusaders if we don’t get another three this weekend.
“Warrenpoint will fancy it at our place and anyone is capable of turning you over in this league but it’s important we keep our home record going. We have to win our home games.” Coleraine were 2-0 up and in control at the break when the Crues failed to deal with two Darren Mccauley corners in the 21st and 44th minutes.
Bradley opened his season’s account with a glancing header inside a crowded area, before defender Stephen O’donnell headed home his second goal of the season just before the break.
The Bannmen were reduced to 10 men when Ogilby picked up a second yellow for handball on the hour mark but comfortably held out despite Jordan Forsythe’s late consolation.
Bradley said: “It was tough but we fully deserved the win and probably could have scored a couple of times on the break when we were down to 10. If we keep playing and working the way we did at Seaview, we’ll be all right.”
Afterwards, straight talking Crusaders boss Stephen Baxter (inset) branded his team’s display “an absolute shambles” and claimed some of his players were guilty of “showboating”.
He said: “The manner of our performance is what we’ll be most annoyed about. It was a clueless performance and I’m embarrassed by it.
“Our supporters will feel cheated because our players have swanned about like prima donnas. I apologise to our fans because it was a load of rubbish.
“When you start in a lacklustre manner, its very hard to pick it up. There’ll be one or two players who’ll be worried about their position in the team.” GLENAVON charged to the top of the Danske Bank Premiership with a 6-1 mauling of Ballymena at The Showgrounds.
Adam Foley, James Singleton, Sammy Clingan, Andy Hall, Bobby Burns and Andy Mitchell were all on target for the visitors, while Ballymena netted through a Tony Kane penalty.
The Lurgan Blues, who also hit Ballinamallard for six midweek, have now scored a prolific 15 goals in their opening three games.
Glenavon new boy and former Northern Ireland midfielder Clingan, who made it 3-0 from the penalty spot, said: “We’ve started the season well and the boys are playing with confidence.
“The first half was scrappy but we started the second half well and dominated.”
Ballymena boss David Jeffrey, who apologised to the club’s supporters, branded his team’s second half display “inept and