HUMP OF COLE

Bannsiders out to channel frustration

ORAN KEARNEY hopes the frustration of dropping vital points at the weekend can be a motivational factor when his Coleraine side clash with Glentoran tonight.

The Bannsiders lost ground at the top of the Premiership table after being held to a scoreless draw by gutsy Carrick Rangers, but Kearney reckons that disappointment will make his boys even more hungry to reach the last four of the Betmclean League Cup.

“We hold the Cup at this point in time and there was a lot of work that went into achieving that,” said Kearney. “It’s a trophy we don’t want to give up easily.

“We know the threat of Glentoran. They will be determined to do well, but for us it’s a big opportunity to try and reach a semi-final.

“Our fans are massively important to us, especially at home.

“I was frustrated for them at the weekend, because they never stopped supporting us at Carrick.

“In the last 20 or 30 minutes, they were almost dragging the ball into the net.

“So, it was frustrating from that point, but hopefully they’ll be out in big numbers to help us against Glentoran.

“It was one of those games that I felt the ball was out of play more than it was in play. We struggled to get any kind of rhythm.”

Glentoran boss Mick Mcdermott is expecting a serious battle on the north coast.

“We had a good game against them at The Oval a few weeks back,” he said. “I thought we should have seen out the game at that time, but we conceded late on.

“Coleraine are a hard team to play against. They are well-drilled and well-managed. They are strong and well-organised, with some good individual players.

“The club has also installed a new surface at the Showgrounds and by all accounts it’s one of the best, so we are looking forward to the game.”

Mcdermott admits his team has still to reach its peak – Saturday’s win over Warrenpoint Town was their first at

home since September 10.

He added: “We have too many players below par at the moment.

“We usually have boys firing on all cylinders.

Not all of them are doing that, but it will come.”