I will fight on despite Coleraine fans’ anger, vows Oran Kearney after Ballymena loss

It was another frustrating afternoon for Coleraine manager Oran Kearney

Jim Ervin celebrates Ballymena's second win of the season against Coleraine

Oran Kearney has vowed to come outfighting after sections of the Coleraine crowd called for his head after a derby day defeat at Ballymena United.

The Sky Blues had gone over 700 minutes without scoring a goal in the Premiership and hadn't won a game since beating the Bannsiders back in October.

Coleraine supporters booed their players off the pitch at full-time, with a section of the travelling fans singing for boss Kearney to leave throughout the 90 minutes.

A sign saying 'Time's Up Oran' was also displayed in the away end but Kearney has come out fighting and vowed to reinforce the ranks in the January transfer window.

He added: "It's a very bad result from our point of view. We don't want to lose matches and derbies or anything like that.

"It's been well-documented over the last month or so about how things have been. It's frustrating and there's no other way to describe it at this moment in time.

"The first-half was as good an away performance as you'd ask for but the minute the equaliser goes in, you expect to see character and you want to see people step up to the plate and we didn't see enough of that.

"I'd be the first to hold my hand up and this season has been an indifferent one. It's been tough in many different aspects and compounded by recent results on the pitch. We've got to fight and that's all we can do.

"January is coming up soon and it's important we use that window smartly."

The three points is a timely boost for United in their bid to avoid the drop, with Coleraine's poor form continuing.

Kearney's side held a half-time lead through Dean Jarvis' header