Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BALLYMENA HIGH
Jeffrey’s joy at being Xmas No.1
BALLYMENA United boss David Jeffrey has praised his players for coping with the “emotional high” of being Christmas No.1 in the Premiership.
The Sky Blues, unbeaten in their last 17 games, lie four points clear of Linfield heading into today’s Boxing Day derby with Coleraine at the Showgrounds.
A sellout crowd of almost 2,000 is set descend on the Warden Street venue as Ballymena target a 13th straight win in all competitions.
And after leading United – who have never won the title – into uncharted waters, Jeffrey is now tasked with playing down the hype.
“I’m delighted we have raised expectation levels at Ballymena and for this week we can say we are top of the league,” he said.
“That’s pleasing but I must say I’ve been impressed with the way the players have handled that.
“Dealing with the emotional high of being top can be hard, but they have been superb.
“What we have to do now is manage expectation.
“Let’s not get carried away. Our target at the start of the season was top six and securing European football – we need to crack Europe – and anything after that is a massive bonus.”
Jeffrey paid tribute to the “phenomenal support” he has received at Ballymena since taking up the reins in March 2016.
The 56-year-old said: “Every single person at this club is working incredibly hard and in terms of sheer appreciation and enjoyment, it is phenomenal.
“We have the support of so many good people and we just want to deliver for them, but as a club our feet are firmly planted on the ground.”
Jeffrey, a veteran of Big Two derbies as both player and manager at Linfield, is fully aware what today’s Boxing Day shootout with fierce rivals Coleraine means to the fans.
“I think it would be very fair to say that our supporters have been most helpful in informing me how much this game means,” he smiled.
“I’ve digested that and taken it on board, but I also know from experience that form means nothing in a Boxing Day derby.”