Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ROD’S STAMP OF APPROVAL
After huge Windsor win, Mcaree hails ‘professional’ display that at last had his mark all over it
COLERAINE boss Rodney Mcaree believes he is now beginning to put his own identity on his team’s performances.
The Bannsiders produced their best display since Mcaree replaced Oran Kearney two months ago with this win over Linfield at Windsor Park.
It was the first time Coleraine have won at the international venue since January 2017, and also Linfield’s first home defeat of the season.
But it was a game of messy own goals. Matty Clarke and Kirk Millar both shot past their own goalkeeper to put the visitors into the driving seat.
David Healy’s over-run side pulled one back late on when Millar’s corner kick flicked off defender Steven Douglas, but it was a consolation they hardly deserved.
“This was the complete performance I’ve been looking for – a totally professional job,” beamed Mcaree. “The only disappointment was we didn’t keep a clean sheet.
“Had we been a little bit more careful in front of goal, we perhaps could have had a few more, our final ball let us down at times.
“It was a big result for me personally, the best since I’ve taken over. Hopefully, it will give the players a little insight of what I’m trying to do.
“We have good, quality players in the dressing room. Gradually, I’m now beginning to put my own stamp on things at the club.
“I didn’t want to tamper too much when I first came in, because the boys were on a fantastic run of unbeaten games which was a terrific achievement.
“I was going home at times feeling a little bit frustrated in terms of how I had done things because maybe I was trying to be someone else. I was making decisions based on what was done before.
“So, over the last couple of weeks, I thought it was a good time for me to change the formation and the shape and put my own identity on the side.
“Today was an enormous three points. I challenged the boys to come here and win and they stood up to it.”
It was another nightmare day at the office for David Healy’s boys. They have now managed to pocket four points from a possible 12 – hardly title winning form.
“It’s difficult to put your finger on why and how we are so poor,” he said.
“We were ok for the first 10 minutes and possibly the last five or six, but you don’t win games of football like that.
“We were second best all over the park. Coleraine are a good side. But we made it easy for them by turning in a soft performance – it was so frustrating.
“We didn’t defend goals well enough and we didn’t work hard enough to create any chances. Our all-round game wasn’t good enough.”