Wins will come if we work hard, insists McAree
COLERAINE are in a mini rut and manager Rodney McAree is determined to get out of it starting at home to bottom of the table Ards today.
The Bannsiders have lost their last two league games against Warrenpoint Town and Newry City and now find themselves in sixth position 14 points behind leaders Ballymena United, though they do have a game in hand.
Prior to those defeats McAree’s men had claimed seven points out of nine and produced an exhilarating performance to beat Linfield 2-1 at Windsor Park.
McAree hasn’t been helped with long-term injuries to key defenders such as Lyndon Kane and Aaron Traynor, though the former made his return in midweek playing for an hour as Coleraine beat Portstewart 3-1.
Coleraine have vital games this month including trips to Glenavon and Ballymena but the Bannsiders boss is focused only on Ards’ visit to the Showgrounds today.
“I’m only thinking about Ards and us getting back to putting in the hard work that can get us results,” said the ex-Dungannon Swifts supremo.
“We wanted more out of our last two games but didn’t get it.
“Against Newry I didn’t feel the desire, commitment and energy that we needed was there to match a very well organised and hard-working side.
“Ards will also be well organised and they will work hard and be tough to break down and try to hit us on the counter attack. It will be a difficult game but it is one we should target three points from. It is an important match for us and we’ll aim to get back to winning ways.”
Colin Nixon’s side will be out to build on halting a run of four defeats with last week’s 1-1 draw at home to Warrenpoint Town.
Nixon won’t want his side to be cut adrift at the bottom of the table. He has proved in his time as Ards boss he has the tools to move them out of trouble and will quietly fancy his chances of putting another point on the board at Coleraine if his team can survive what is expected to be an early onslaught at the Showgrounds.