Coleraine FC manager Ruaidhri Higgins has told his players to ignore the noise surrounding Duncan Ferguson's managerial debut when they host Glentoran in a key Premiership clash on Friday night. The Bannsiders sit top of the table with 35 points from 14 games, holding a two-point advantage over Linfield ahead of this high-profile fixture at The Showgrounds.
Glentoran arrive with former Scotland international Ferguson in the dugout for the first time, his planned debut last weekend against Ballymena United postponed due to a storm. Higgins emphasised that his squad's focus must remain solely on securing three points to maintain their position at the summit. The match is scheduled for a 7.45pm kick-off and is expected to draw a large crowd to the north coast venue.
Recent form and head-to-head
Coleraine's form is formidable, unbeaten in their last five league matches with four wins and a draw. That sequence includes a 5-0 demolition of Crusaders and a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory away to Larne. Their most recent outing was a 1-1 draw with these same Glentoran opponents just days ago, a result that extended their unbeaten run. Interestingly, the last team to beat Glentoran in the league was Coleraine, who recorded a 2-1 victory earlier in the campaign.
Glentoran are also in strong form, unbeaten in their own last five games under the previous interim management of Paddy McCourt and Tim McCann. Midfielder Aaron McEneff has said the players have responded well to Ferguson's arrival, with the new boss wanting his side to play with confidence. The visitors will be eager to make a statement for their new manager, but they face a Coleraine side that has scored 32 goals this season while conceding only 13.
Match significance and expectations
This fixture carries significant weight in the title race. With second-placed Linfield also in action on Friday, Coleraine know any slip could see their lead cut. Higgins' men have shown resilience, bouncing back from their only league defeat of the season, a 3-1 loss to Linfield in September, with a string of impressive results. The team's standings position is a sign of that consistency.
The atmosphere is anticipated to be electric for what is being billed as a 'big game' between two of the league's leading sides. For Coleraine, the immediate task is clear: extend their unbeaten run and handle the occasion better than their visitors. After this, attention turns to a massive top-of-the-table showdown away to Linfield on 7 November. Securing a positive result on Friday would provide the perfect platform for that trip.
This story first appeared at colerainechronicle.co.uk
