Linfield head up to the Causeway Coast on match day twenty-five of the NIFL Danske Premiership to face Coleraine FC at the Showgrounds (3pm ko, all-ticket). The last meeting between the teams was in December, with Linfield enjoying an away day win at the Showgrounds in a closely contested game (2-1).
On Tuesday night Linfield and Cliftonville shared the points (2-2) in a roller-coaster of a game at a packed Solitude. Goals seemed assured as both teams looked to move the ball forward at pace, keeping the large crowd at Solitude sitting on the edge of their seats. Goals duly arrived for both teams with Linfield having to show plenty of determination to come back twice from behind as they chased the game. Linfield’s second half goals from Matthew Clarke and Ethan Devine, were almost topped in the dying embers of the game when Kirk Millar nearly forced home a dramatic late winner. A draw was probably a fair reflection of the game with both teams giving it their all on the night.
Coleraine have endured a very disappointing Premiership campaign that sees them sitting well off the pace in sixth place of the NIFL table. In their last outing they endured some late heartache at the Oval after hosts Glentoran scored in the 90th minute to grab the points (2-1). Manager Oran Kearney will be hoping that the recent return from injury of Curtis Allen, Aaron Jarvis and James McLaughlin will have a positive impact on results. Their season though is still very much alive with progress made in the Irish Cup and a League Cup Final date with Cliftonville in March on the horizon.
It has however been a season of real growth off the park for the Bannsiders with the new 4g pitch opening the gates to greater interaction with the local community. As work continues on the overall staged redevelopment of the Showgrounds Stadium, support from the stands has been impressive with home attendance figures in Premiership games only trumped by Linfield. In a landscape of spiralling record transfer fees, the Coleraine Board’s decision to implement a sustainable business model suited to a part-time club, has left the manger’s options in the transfer market somewhat limited in comparison to one or two other clubs. As speculation increases of interest from other clubs in some of his star players, Oran will be even more determined to hold own to these prized assets. Coleraine and their supporters do appear to be reading off the same page, as turnstiles continue to click at the Showgrounds.
The Linfield supporters will be hoping that there will be a few new faces checking in at Windsor Park before the transfer window slams shut. The Blues are still very much in the market for players who can add quality to the team, ahead of what is shaping up to be an intense run of fixtures even before the top six split. David and his players are facing another difficult game against a Coleraine side, who are always fired up for games between the two teams at the Showgrounds. Linfield though are on an impressive unbeaten run of twelve games that will only breed further confidence within the squad. Hopefully, the Blues can keep the momentum built up over the last few months going with a match winning performance on Saturday. COYB!
Ken Garrett.
