Coleraine want to keep performing to maintain ‘feel-good factor’ at The Showgrounds, says Ruaidhri Higgins
Ruaidhri Higgins says everyone at Coleraine is fully aware that it is down to the staff and players to ensure they continue to produce on the pitch in order to keep “a feel-good factor” going around the club.
The Bannsiders currently lead the way in the BOYLE Sports Premiership table by a solitary point after claiming four wins and a draw from their opening five fixtures.
Higgins’ men have also been proficient in both boxes as they have netted 12 league goals and conceded just two.
The club have also recently launched their new ‘fanzone’ to enhance the matchday experience at The Showgrounds and Higgins, who was named as Manager of the Month for August, wants the positivity to continue across the Ballycastle Road.
“It’s a really good place to be,” he said.
"Listen, we need to keep performing on the pitch to make sure that that feel-good factor stays there.
"To be honest, that's the only thing we can control as staff and players is making sure that we keep performing on the pitch to keep that excitement around and to keep that engagement.
“We all know that if Coleraine’s performing and competing and doing well, that we've a really good, strong fan base.
“And that's key if we want to achieve anything, that we keep getting good numbers through the gates.”
Coleraine’s unbeaten start to the season will be put to the test in the first derby meeting of the campaign against Ballymena United on Friday night.
The Sky Blues make their way up the A26 licking their wounds after surrendering a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw against Bangor last weekend.
When asked if the squad approaches a derby differently, Higgins replied: “I appreciate how much it means to our supporters – there's no doubt about that.
"I think you want to win the game for them on Friday night to make sure that they really enjoy their weekend.
"But from a coaching point of view and a management point of view and how we prepare for the game...it is absolutely no different whatsoever.
“All our lads have played in derbies, whether it's in Scotland, whether it's here, whether it's down south, we've all played in derbies and coached and managed in derbies.
"I do get the added incentive for our supporters, but for us, we won't approach it in any other way than what we normally do.”
Higgins’ panel was added on transfer deadline day by the arrivals of Adam Brooks and Joe Thomson, with the pair being handed their debuts last weekend.
Thomson worked with Higgins at Derry City and the Coleraine chief knows exactly what he is getting with his new arrival.
"He's box to box, he's all action, he's a fighter, and he's got quality as well,” Higgins said of the 29-year-old.
“He's got a really brilliant right foot, people are used to saying he's got a great left foot, they never say he's got a great right foot, but he does, he's got a really sweet right foot, and he's got that edge to his play, and that will do whatever it takes to win a game of football.”