KANE IS ABLE

Lyndon the hero for Bannsiders

2021-02-17 - BY DARREN FULLERTON

LYNDON KANE treated himself to a late birthday gift as he fired Coleraine to a hard fought and fiery 1-0 win over 10-man Ballymena.

Kane, who turned 24 on Monday, blew out United’s light’s with a picture book strike to edge the Bannsiders level in the table with thirdplaced Crusaders.

Before the late drama, it had been a gritty game, particularly in the fist half when clearcut chances were at a premium at either end of the pitch. Coleraine thought they had taken an early lead when James Mclaughin’s vicious shot from the edge of the area deflected into the United net.

But referee Tony Clarke spotted the ball had struck Curtis Allen’s arm and ruled out the effort for handball.

Mclaughlin also rattled the post with a close range header, but the linesman’s flag was already raised for offside as the ball rebounded into play.

At the other end, United’s top goalscorer Paul Mcelroy had an early penalty appeal waved away by Clarke when he tumbled under a challenge inside the area. Conor Keeley also saw a header from a Ross Redman corner scrambled off the line by Kane, before Aaron Traynor fizzed a shot wide.

Ballymena’s best chance of the first half came from the quick feet of Shay Macartan, but the striker’s stinging shot was saved by Gareth Deane at the second attempt.

Mclaughlin had the ball in the net a second time at the start of the second half, but this time referee Clarke ruled the forward had fouled the goalkeeper while jumping for the ball. The Bannsiders took the lead in contentious circumstances on the hour mark when Kane rifled home his first league goal in six years.

Glackin’s corner wasn’t cleared and after United midfielder Kane fell under a challenge inside the area, the defender arrowed home from the edge of the area.

Ballymena sub Joe Mccready tested Deane with a late strike before the Sky Blues lost keeper Williamson to a late red for a lunging challenge on Nixon.

Victory made it nine games unbeaten for Coleraine who, after a stumbling start to the season, are now only eight points off leaders Linfield.

Royal Antwerp Rangers

v tomorrow, 8pm

BY MARK WALKER

ROYAL ANTWERP boss Franky Vercauteren admits his side are down to the bare bones ahead of tomorrow’s Europa League showdown with Rangers, with five players definitely out and a further two doubtful.

Steven Gerrard’s side are hot favourites to progress into the Last 16 of the competition after a near-flawless run so far.

They face an Antwerp side at their Bosuilstadion base who have improved hugely under Vercauteren and sit second in the Belgian top flight.

But they have been badly hit by injury and suspension with key man Lamkel Ze, who has scored four goals in their last six games, suspended for the

first leg because of a sending off playing in Europa last season.

Now Vercauteren has revealed he won’t be able to count on four injured players for the match tomorrow - Faris Haroun and Dieumerci Mbokani are on their way back, but won’t make this week and Alexis De Sart and Jean Butez are out for both legs.

And they also have oubts over Birger Verstraete and Dylan Batubinsika

He said: “We have an absolute maximum of 18 first team players available for the match against Rangers.

“Haroun and Mbokani are on the recovery path, but they still haven’t trained and are out, just like De Sart and Butez.

“We are hoping Verstraete and Batubinsika will be ready to play. Their situation is being closely monitored every day.”

PAUL SCHOLES has warned Manchester United that Adnan Januzaj could come back to haunt them in the Europa League. Januzaj made 63 appearances during a four-year spell at United, but is now at Real Sociedad, who host Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side tomorrow.

Although Scholes retired the season before Januzaj made his debut, he coached him during a spell working with the reserves, and knows what a threat the 26-year-old will pose. “Adnan was a really talented kid,” said Scholes. “When I retired the first time, I was coaching him for six months. “The talent no doubt was there. It’s still there and he’s doing really well at Sociedad. It’s been a good change for him. He showed glimpses when he first came into United’s first team, that he had the ability we all knew he had. “For some reason, it just didn’t work out and he’s had to go elsewhere, but he’s a really talented player.

“He’s somebody we’re really going to have to watch on Thursday, along with David Silva, obviously.” Januzaj, now in his fourth season with Sociedad, has made 104 appearances, scoring 16 goals, with Scholes impressed by the Belgium star’s talent. “Adnan’s got great ability,” added Scholes. “He can go past people, he’s got a lovely left foot. He can score goals, create careful goals, so we’ll have to be with him.

“He’s a good lad, who tries his best all the time. I hope he does well, but not too well this Thursday.”

Winger Januzaj played under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal at United, but went out on loan again when Jose Mourinho came in 2016 and was sold the following year.

Reflecting on his time at Old Trafford, Januzaj said: “I didn’t have the right coach to get me on my level and to push me. When Van Gaal came, I was playing one game out of six, so it was difficult.

“The first season under Moyes, I was getting game time to show myself. I think I played 30 or 35 games. Then it was one game and five on the bench.

“At that point, I just wanted to leave the club to get games.

“I went to Sunderland. It’s not a team for me and not a team where I would enjoy my football, but I went there because I wanted to have games. I wanted to play, that was the only thing.”

CHELSEA defender Andreas Christensen has warned the Blues are ready to build on the resurgence that has lifted them back into the top four.

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