Gary Haveron keen for Larne to extend spectacular home record in visit of Coleraine

The Inver Reds sit four points clear of the Bannsiders, who are coming off a 3-1 victory over reigning champions Linfield, at the summit.

Larne’s superb season has been built on solid home foundations with Haveron’s men unbeaten across 11 Premiership matches at Inver Park this term while they’ve remarkably only conceded two goals in that period.

No top-flight team has collected more home points than Larne (27) and only Coleraine (26) have scored more goals in front of home support.

Turning Inver Park into a fortress was a cornerstone of Larne’s historic Gibson Cup triumphs in both 2022/23 and 2023/24 – in the former, the Co Antrim club leaked only six goals across 18 home matches and in the latter they lost just one of 20 matches, conceding 13 times.

While seeking to maintain defensive standards, Haveron will also be hoping to see an extra attacking spark with Larne scoring only four goals in their last five league matches – no team has netted fewer in that timeframe.

"It’s (clean sheets) very, very important for how we want to play,” Haveron told the club’s media channel. “We don’t like conceding goals, we pride ourselves on being tight at the back.

"We need to take advantage and take our chances when they do come along and be ruthless.

"You need that extra bit of quality. Benji (Magee) has produced a couple bits of magic, that extra bit of quality in tight games.

"Joel Cooper did that for Linfield for years and now is probably going to do the same for Coleraine, that’s the type of him, he comes up with the big moments.

"Conor McKendry has been really, really good for us this year in stepping up and getting important goals.

"Unfortunately we haven’t had him, Tiarnan O’Connor, Mark Randall with that creativity at the minute, so you’re missing three key players in terms of creativity.

"It’s no slant on anybody that’s out there. Andy Ryan has came back and got 20 minutes under his belt which will do him the world of good. We will regroup and be ready come Friday.

"We’re going to need the crowd out again. It was a bitterly cold night on Tuesday but you could hear the fans getting behind the team...it gives the boys a lift.

"The support is invaluable. We’re coming into a really big game against Coleraine...win, lose or draw, we will still be top of the league after the game but we want to try and build momentum and get back to winning ways.”

Coleraine’s squad is set to be boosted by January signings Mark Connolly and James Akintunde, who will both be available for the first time after joining the Bannsiders last month.

“Larne have had a brilliant season and have one hand on the trophy,” said manager Ruaidhri Higgins. “We have to put in a big performance and try to pick up three points.

"Fingers crossed all the paperwork (for new signings) is done, you can’t take these things for granted, but hopefully they’re done and they will be involved.”