Coleraine face tough task against Linfield

WHICHEVER way you look at it, Coleraine face a daunting task taking anything from Friday night's game against Linfield.

Yes, it's at home, but that is little consolation in the general scheme of things.

Just one win in nine games, and that a last minute winner against Glenavon, and a 4-1 defeat at Cliftonville last week doesn't augur well for home supporters.

Neither does Coleraine's recent record against this evening's opposition: it's just one win in 15 against David Healy's men, the last Stripes' victory coming just over two years ago, a 3-0 win at Ballycastle Road.

It's fair to say it's been a tough time of late for all Bannsiders who have had to watch as the club dropped out of the top six in midweek, Loughgall's point against Newry City seeing them leapfrog the north coast club.

But this being football one never knows.

Look at what happened to Linfield six days ago: an 88th minute goal from Darragh McBrien looked to have won them the points on the road at Glenavon only for Aaron Prendergast's 97th minute equaliser to break Blues' hearts.

The result saw them fall a point behind Larne at the top of the table which means they will travelling north tonight doubly determined not to make the same mistake twice.

Linfield have won both previous games this season - 3-1 at the Showgrounds and 2-1 at Windsor Park - and all the signs points to them completing a hat-trick in front of the BBC cameras.

However, Bannsiders' boss Oran Kearney maintains that there are still signs of encouragement, despite recent results.

"I definitely think there are positives to take from today," he said following the defeat a Solitude.

"It's hard to stand here and say that at 4-1 but for anybody that was here today I think there was no issue with our work levels and fitness levels.

"There were a lot of good aspects in our play and, as I have said, I think we created quite a bit today and we've got to hold on to that.

"The key thing is I think is what I call streetwise, we just can't give teams head starts. It seems to be here particularly with Cliftonville.

"We've got to eradicate that, we've got to stop those moments and it's those moments that have a big impact on the game," he added.

Certainly, conceding goals is an area of concern - 55 goals against in 28 games doesn't make for good reading.

Eliminate errors and you give yourself a chance, especially with proven goalscorers at the other end of the pitch in the likes of Conor McKendry, Matthew Shevlin and Jamie McGonigle.

That's the size of the task facing Coleraine tonight.