Coleraine skipper Lyndon Kane determined to end 13-year wait for Boxing Day win at rivals Ballymena United

You have to go back 13 years for Coleraine's last success at the home of their nearest and dearest as David Scullion and Curtis Allen netted the goals in a 2-0 victory at Warden Street.

Coleraine were managed that day by the now Ballymena boss Oran Kearney in what is another added spice ahead of the derby.

"To be honest, when you say that, it actually surprises me because I think Ballymena is probably the ground I've won the most at in the league as well," Kane replied when asked about Coleraine's wait for a Boxing Day win at Ballymena.

"When you do say that, you don't realise that I haven't won an away Boxing Day game as a player, so obviously, that's something that I need to change.

"I haven't looked into it but I would say this is probably Boxing Day number eight or nine for me.

"My favourite memory is probably my first one at home. I think we won 2-0 and it was just that feeling of I would only have been 17 at the time.

"I was in awe of it where the year before I'd have been at the game as a fan. Then, obviously, being able to be involved in it and being able to get the win, especially at home as well, it's just that extra bit special."

Kane was handed his debut by Kearney in 2014 and whilst he expects his former manager to do well at the Braidmen - he wants it to happen after Boxing Day comes and goes.

He explained: “It will be strange and it probably adds a wee bit more fuel to the fire, especially because it's probably come so soon with Oran arriving at Ballymena.

"Obviously, I wish him all the best in his new role and stuff like that, but not on Boxing Day, because I'm here to do a job, and he's obviously at Ballymena to do a job.

"Once we cross the white line, it's business as usual. It will be strange but it's one of them ones where hopefully I can be on the good side of it.”

Coleraine surrendered their lead at the top of the Premiership table last weekend as their loss at Glentoran was coupled with Larne’s success away at Crusaders.

It proved to be a bruising encounter for Coleraine as they saw Dylan Boyle sent-off, as well as manager Ruaidhri Higgins and assistant Kevin Deery.

"Obviously, to lose any game of football, it's important to bounce back straight away,” he stated.

"To be honest, as a player, there's no real better game to get yourself up for.

“There's a great group of lads here, and we all stick together. We're a very, very close-knit group and that's staff included.

"We come in every day wanting to do well for each other. We've been in working hard again since the Glens game and just trying to put things right and make sure we're ready for Boxing Day.”