Bannsiders boss Ruaidhri Higgins warns Limavady United visit is ‘a dangerous game’ for his side
Ruaidhri Higgins has labelled his side’s battle against north-neighbours Limavady United as “really dangerous” as the two teams prepare to face off at the Coleraine Showgrounds.
The Bannsiders, who currently sit at the top of the Premiership standings by three points, come into the contest after late victories in their previous two encounters against Ballymena United and Glentoran.
The euphoria of those late wins have brought an understandable high around the Ballycastle Road – but Higgins warned that focus needs to quickly turn to the visit of the Roesiders.
Paul Owens’ men ended their wait for a Premiership win against Crusaders last Saturday and then followed it up by bagging all three points in a 3-1 triumph against Bangor – something which hasn’t gone unnoticed by Coleraine chief Higgins.
“It’s a really dangerous game, that’s how I view it,” Higgins said.
“When you get a late winner against Ballymena and when you get a late winner against Glentoran, you’re really high but it’s about coming back down quickly.
“It’s about switching your focus straight away, so for me, it’s a really dangerous game and if we’re not mentally in the right frame of mind, then we could come unstuck.
“But if we approach it the way I expect us too, then we’ve got an opportunity to put three points on the board.
“Limavady are in great form, credit to them, but we’re at home and our home form has been exceptional for over a year now and we need to keep that going.”
Coleraine were comfortable winners in recent games against Portadown and Crusaders but had to go to the well to pick up maximum points from the aforementioned successes against Ballymena United and Glentoran.
Higgins remarked how it’s been great to see his forces execute “different ways to win football matches”.
He added: “I think winning late shows a couple of different things.
“I mentioned it after the game that it shows the depth that we have in the group but it also shows the personality and character we have within the group, which is really important.
“We will need that between now and the end of the season because it’s not always going to be vintage, it’s not always going to be comfortable and it’s when those games are tight, that we try to come out on top.
“I feel we deserved to win both games but it always doesn’t go the way you would hope but it’s then about getting it over the line when the game is in the balance and I think we’ve done that.”