Coleraine's Andy Scott takes on Crusaders star Jordan Forsythe in a previous clash between the sides
It’s been a week of soul searching at Coleraine after their humbling 5-0 defeat at Cliftonville.
It was a result that no-one saw coming, particularly after the Bannsiders had performed to brilliantly in their win at Glentoran.
But football gives you can opportunity to quickly get defeats out of your system and Crusaders could feel the backlash at the Showgrounds on Saturday.
Both sides are in need of a lift after the Crues lost at Linfield on Tuesday. Stephen Baxter’s men were off colour in the first half and were hit with a two goal blitz.
Coleraine manager Oran Kearney is someone who rarely criticises his players in public but the manner of his side’s capitulation at Solitude was upsetting.
As good as the Reds were, with hat-trick hero Joe Gormley and Ben Wilson too hot to handle, the Bannsiders offered little resistance.
Kearney’s criticism will have hit home and the players know they have let themselves and the club down.
The former St Mirren boss will demand a much better performance against the Crues or another nightmare will unfold.
“If you’re going to feel sorry for yourselves and mope about with that type of an attitude, you couldn’t pick a worse team to come up against because it’ll be no different to Tuesday,” he said.
“They’ll come after us like we need to go after them and it’s important that, sadly, we have to ask for a reaction.
“We would absolutely need to [get a reaction].
“You can’t predict anything in football and that’s the key thing but I’m embarrassed in simple terms.
“I feel a huge level of embarrassment and shame and everything that goes with it and I sincerely hope every single one of those
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