Coleraine FC aim to extend their winning run and solidify top spot when they visit Crusaders FC in the Premiership on Saturday. The league leaders, who sit first with 31 points from 12 games on a record of ten wins, one draw and one loss, have won three consecutive matches and hold a five-point advantage over second-placed Linfield.
Their most recent victory was a dramatic 3-2 comeback at Larne last Saturday, where Cooper scored twice and Shevlin netted the winner. That result, following a 1-0 win over Cliftonville and a 3-2 victory at Bangor, forms part of a recent run of four wins and one loss from their last five games. Their only defeat in that sequence was a 3-1 home loss to Linfield on 25 September.
Crusaders enter the match in seventh place and are struggling for form, having lost four of their last five league games. Their recent defeats include losses to Ballymena United, Larne and Carrick Rangers, leaving them well off the pace set by Coleraine.
Coleraine dominated the previous encounter, securing a convincing 4-1 home win on 5 September. That result is part of a strong recent record for the Bannsiders, who have won four of their last five Premiership outings.
The team's recent form shows a capacity to grind out results, with narrow 1-0 wins over Cliftonville and Limavady United alongside their more emphatic victories. Their only defeat in the last five games was a 3-1 home loss to Linfield in late September.
Looking at the standings, Coleraine's position is built on consistency, with ten wins and just one defeat from their opening dozen matches. Friday's game at Seaview presents an opportunity to apply more pressure on their title rivals. The match kicks off on Saturday 24 October.
