Coleraine boss Oran Kearney admits injuries to key players have hampered his side's performances
Ballymena United’s Fraser Taylor duels with his Coleraine counterpart Josh Carson
Coleraine boss Oran Kearney believes a Boxing Day derby victory against Ballymena United can help kickstart his team’s season.
Not for the first time, the Bannsiders have flattered to deceive during an inconsistent 2023/24 campaign.
Expectation levels both on and off the pitch were through the roof at the start of the term but, come the halfway point in the Sports Direct Premiership schedule, Kearney’s boys are struggling to stay in the top six.
Even though they turned in a creditable showing against Linfield at Windsor Park on Friday night, it was the same old story.
Coleraine conceded two quick-fire second-half goals and the points were whisked away from them in what proved their ninth defeat of the campaign.
Although Kearney was left scratching his head looking for answers, he admitted that his ever-growing injury list has been a fundamental factor in his team’s failings.
“I don’t know who will be available for the Boxing Day game,” he said.
“In simple terms, we just have the squad to carry us through. We’ve always been made up where less is more.
“It’s a conveyor belt in terms of players at the minute. Darren Cole hasn’t played a lot this season, but we were forced to play him at Windsor Park on Friday. Kieran Farren got hurt after about 10 minutes, but he had to soldier on.
“When the two quick goals went in, I thought I’d try and get him off the pitch to protect him.
“We had two or three that hadn’t left their bed all week in relation to flu and bugs that are doing the rounds. They shouldn’t have been on the pitch at all.
“Credit to them,
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