Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Angry Glentoran boss claims clubs are using roughhouse tactics on his boys
MICK MCDERMOTT claims rival teams are targeting his Glentoran players with roughhouse tactics this season.
Glens left-back Bobby Burns suffered a suspected broken leg in a challenge with Coleraine’s James Mclaughlin during Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at the Showgrounds.
MCL aughlin was shown a straight red card by referee Jamie Robinson, and coming on the back of Glenavon having two men sent off against Glentoran the week before, Mcdermott is certain teams are taking an aggressive approach in trying to stop his men playing.
“Most definitely,” said The Oval boss. “I’m not complaining about it but definitely, you can see teams are whaling through tackles.
“But if that’s how it’s going to be, that’s how it’s going to be. There’s nothing we can do about it.
“But that was a bad tackle, to lunge in like that. I haven’t seen it in replay or slow motion but you could hear the crack of it as soon as it happened.
“Unfortunately for Bobby, a young international, (inset) it’s part of playing.”
Coleraine dominated the game up until Mclaughlin’s sending off just past the hour mark and were leading 2-0 thanks to a fifth minute header from captain Stephen O’donnell and a cute finish from
Ben Doherty on the stroke of half-time. The visitors managed to pull one back when sub Jay
Donnelly butted the ball home in the
89th minute but it was too little too late, with the Glens now having just one point to show from their opening three games. Mcdermott added: “The only positive I’ll take from the game is that we didn’t give up. We did push and push.”
Coleraine did have to endure some sustained pressure during the eight minutes of injury-time but were thoroughly deserving of all three points. Under Oran Kearney’s stewardship, the Bannsiders are the epitome of a team who earn the right to play through hard work and effort, showing some real quality in the final third on a wet and windy afternoon.
“We were absolutely delighted up until the last t en minut e s or s o, when all of a sudden the surge came,” said Kearney. “Up until that point we were more than deserving of our two-goal lead. “Credit to our lads, it was backs to the wall for ten minutes but there were no passengers, everybody fought their corner and it’s a big three points.”
Of the red card incident, Kearney added: “James is distraught. It’s highly unfortunate how it’s ended up and we’re devastated for Bobby.”
Coleraine skipper O’donnell added: “We wish Bobby all the best. Hopefully he makes a quick recovery. It’s difficult to see that, especially with a young player who has done really well and been involved at international level.”