No quick-fix solution to our recovery says Reds manager Eddie
Cliftonville are showing signs of recovering from an indifferent start to the season but boss Eddie Patterson realises that there is no quick fix solution.
The return of stars such as Francis Murphy and Barry Johnston from injury is a huge plus as he attempts to guide the Reds back to more familiar territory in the top half of the table.
Saturday's Showgrounds stalemate was another step on the way although Patterson also admitted feeling some frustration about his side's lack of finishing.
"Taking a point from a difficult venue like the Showgrounds is acceptable – a positive considering that we could have been beaten in the closing minutes of the game – but what left me a little disappointed was the lack of service to our front men.
"I felt that for all the possession we had there was not enough end product and maybe some players have to look at that and think how they could have contributed better."
Patterson reckons he must be patient as his returning players battle to win back full fitness: "You can see the improvement but with such a heavy midweek schedule over the past couple of weeks it hasn't been easy for the likes of Murphy and Johnston but you can see the difference they make.
"Everyone knows that Johnty pulls the strings for us in midfield and we were able to get almost a full game from Francis Murphy which is a plus too."
Goalkeeper Lawrence McCormick helped the Bannsiders maintain their unbeaten home record in the Premiership.
The stand-in for suspended Davy O'Hare looked sharp and his manager, David Platt, a former keeper himself, was happy.
"Sometimes it is difficult to step up when you don't get much first team football but Lawrence is so dependable and once again he didn't let us down.
"But over the 90 minutes he wasn't under pressure so that tells a story.
"I thought we were edgy in the opening 15 minutes but then settled in to play some decent football."
Platt could not understand why referee Dessie Loughrey disallowed a Davy Patton header which beat keeper John Connolly after 23 minutes.
"I couldn't see what was wrong and neither could anyone else around me. Davy did well to get down and head the ball into the net," he said.
"I asked Jody Tolan what he saw because he went to ground in the box but he said there didn't seem to be anything wrong. He tangled with Barry Johnston as the ball came over but didn't reckon there was much in it if that was what the referee blew up for."
McCormick came to Coleraine's rescue early on when central defender Paddy McLaughlin almost gifted the visitors the lead, directing a header back towards goas unaware that his keeper had come well off his line. However, McCormick raced back just in time to clear the ball off the line.
Within a minute the keeper pulled off a one-handed save to deny Kieran O'Connor when he fired a shot on target.
Gareth Harkin, always a menace to the Reds’ defence, beat Connolly but Murphy cleared his lines and McLaughlin dropped an overhead kick wide of the near post.
In injury time substitute Stephen Dooley forced a save from Connolly and impressive McCallion cracked a drive over the top.
Coleraine: McCormick, Beverland, Crossan (Dooley 78) , McLaughlin, Patton (Gibson 63), Tolan (McVey 89), McCallion, Carson, Harkin, Neill, Shields.
Subs not used: Lamont, Ewart.
BOOKED: Carson (69).
Cliftonville: Connolly, R. Scannell, Johnston, M. Holland, Hamill (Boyce 85), C. Scannell, McMullan, Murphy (Patterson 89), Donaghy (O’Hara 63), B. Holland, O’Connor.
Subs not used: Catney, Pearse.
BOOKED: C. Scannell (26).
Referee: Dessie Loughery (Limavady).
Man of the match: Johnston (Cliftonville)
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Tuesday 14 February 2012
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