Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
It’s tunnel vision for Bann boss
COLERAINE chief Oran Kearney had adopted a blinkered approach to his team’s final eight games of league campaign.
The Bannsiders have pushed Premiership table toppers Crusaders all the way in the race for the Gibson Cup and, although the Shore Road team opened up a five-point gap following their thumping midweek win over Glenavon, Kearney isn’t for chucking in the towel.
He knows that every point now must be a prisoner – and that today’s derby clash with rivals Ballymena United at the Warden Street
Showgrounds is a ‘must win’ affair.
While the Bannsiders are chasing down the title and, knowing a top-two place will guarantee them European football, David Jeffrey’s United have their own agenda.
They are desperately trying to nudge into sixth place in the table that would earn them a slot in the end-of-season Europa League play-offs.
However, it promises to be another tight, closely fought affair – the last time the teams met was on Boxing Day when the spoils were shared.
“Crusaders are in the driving seat at the minute, all we can do is win our games,” admitted Kearney.
“There’s no point on us waiting for someone to take points off Crusaders if we don’t win our own games.
“So, it’s important to keep our own house in order in the event of the Crues slipping up.
“It won’t be easy at Ballymena. Derby games are never straight forward. But we have to go there and be professional and hope we can get the points to keep us in the frame.”