Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Coates: It is still all to play for
CRUSADERS captain Colin Coates is bracing himself for a nip and tuck race to the title with Coleraine in the last 10 weeks of the season.
The Shore Road men boast a two point lead and game in hand at the summit, although everything points to it being a close sprint to the line.
The Crues have won 22 of their 28 league games and taken an average of 2.5 points per game, while Coleraine have suffered just one league defeat and taken an average of 2.3 points per outing. Ahead of today’s
home clash with Ballymena, Coates said: “There’s only two points between us at the top and we haven’t lost too many games between us, so I do think it could go down to the wire.
“Both teams are capable going on a run and when the league splits and the top six teams play each other, it could be very interesting given how close it is.”
Elsewhere, ARDS, who beat Glentoran 2-1 last weekend, will bid for a Big Two double when they face
LINFIELD.
The Blues, bolstered by a 2-1 win at Cliftonville last time out, are bidding to chase down third placed Glenavon who travel to second-botton Carrick Rangers. DUNGANNON SWIFTS,
fresh from last Saturday’s League Cup triumph, host
BALLINAMALLARD who lie four points below Carrick at the foot of the table.
FIXTURES: Ards v Linfield; Carrick Rangers v Glenavon; Coleraine v Warrenpoint Town; Crusaders v Ballymena United; Dungannon Swifts v Ballinamallard: Glentoran v Cliftonville.