Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
KEARNEY: THE BOYS ARE BUZZING
COLERAINE boss Oran Kearney is relishing tomorrow’s high stakes showdown with in-form Crusaders at the Showgrounds.
The Bannmen lie five points clear at the league summit but the
Crues, who have won their last nine games in all competitions, lurk six points below in third with a crucial game in hand.
Coleraine, who have topped the table since
August, bounced back from last Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Linfield with a commanding midweek 4-1 win over Ards. Kearney, inset, knows the significance of the three points on offer and says his players should be “rubbing their hands” in anticipation.
He said: “Crusaders are the form team in the league, but it’s one of those games where you’re buzzing and looking forward to it. “I told the boys immediately after the Ards game that they should be rubbing their hands. If you play Irish League football, these games are what it’s all about.
“It’s a big game and there should be a great atmosphere. We had a great crowd for the home fixture against Linfield a few weeks ago and hopefully we get the same again.”
Coleraine, who have won all eight of their home premiership games this season, inflicted a 2-1 league defeat on Crusaders at Seaview in August.
But Kearney said: “That win was a few months ago and this will be an entirely different challenge. Crusaders have really hit form the last five or six weeks.
“They’re scoring goals for fun from all over the pitch, so we’ll have our work cut out to get something from the game.”