IN THE ROAD

Ballymena ace knows derby crunch is crucial for United

WILLIE FAULKNER accepts injury-hit Ballymena United’s mettle will be tested to the full in the white heat of a derby shootout at Coleraine.

David Jeffrey’s men are eager to hit back from last week’s 3-0 Irish Cup defeat to Crusaders at a blustery

Seaview.

And Faulkner knows they couldn’t have been handed a tougher assignment with a raft of injuries to key personnel.

Striker Cathair Friel is a major loss after breaking his collarbone in training, while James Knowles (knee) and Ryan Harpur (calf) are also ruled out.

“It’s going to be tough - but then it’s always tough at Coleraine,” said Faulkner.

“No matter where either team is sitting in the league, it’s always a really tight game.

“It’s important we regroup after last week’s defeat at Crusaders and we know people will be watching to see how we react to that defeat.

“It was a bad day at the office and we were below par, but we just have to put it down to ‘one of those days’ and focus on the games in front of us.

“I’ve no doubt we’ll be ready to go again because we have a great changing room and there’s a real resilience and togetherness amongst the boys.”

While Ballymena lie second in the Premiership and are in Linfield’s rear view mirror in the title race, Faulkner believes it remains the Blues’ league to lose.

He also agrees with boss Jeffrey’s assessment that securing second and guaranteed Europa League qualification is now a priority for the Braid club.

Speaking prior to Linfield’s trip to Glenavon last night, he said: “Our main aim is to consolidate where we are in the league.

“It’s been a long time since Ballymena finished in the top two (it was 1980), so that’s a big incentive.

“Our main target was to finish top six and the next target after that was to get into Europe which is massive for the club from a football and financial point of view.”

While Ballymena are chasing a response, Coleraine head into today’s derby on a high following last week’s dramatic 5-3 win over Larne in the Irish Cup.

“They’ll have been boosted by the nature of that win,” said Faulkner.

“We also went there earlier in the season and led twice only for Coleraine to come back and draw the game 2-2 with 10 men, so we know what to expect.

“But it’s very important for us that we get back to winning ways.”