Ruaidhri Higgins clear Coleraine 'have to become winners' with 'accepting defeat not an option'
Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins is clear “accepting defeat is not an option” and called on his players to show bravery as they look to bounce back from their Boxing Day derby defeat against Linfield.
The Bannsiders’ Premiership charge was dented following a 2-0 defeat to Ballymena United – a result which marked their second consecutive league loss having also been beaten by Glentoran.
Friday’s setback means they now sit six points adrift of leaders Larne, who also hold two matches in hand, in their pursuit to end the club’s 52-year wait for Gibson Cup glory.
Coleraine were fancied amongst the main pre-season contenders after an impressive summer transfer window which included the arrivals of Joel Cooper, Will Patching and Kodi Lyons-Foster.
The Showgrounds outfit have been an attacking force this term, scoring a league-high 43 goals – at least nine more than every other team – but Higgins feels they need to change club culture and respond immediately from their Ballymena disappointment.
"We have Linfield now and we have to go and put in a brave performance,” Higgins told the club’s media channel. “You can win games and lose games, but we need to show bravery and that’s what I expect going into Tuesday night.
"Feeling sorry for ourselves is not an option, accepting defeat is not an option. It has been a cultural thing and we have to get rid of that.
"We have to become winners, and how you become winners is when things aren’t going smoothly you have to dig in and pick up big results and (produce) big performances – that’s what we have to do now.”
Reigning champions Linfield are also coming off derby defeat having lost out 1-0 to Glentoran at Windsor Park and manager David Healy admits his side are “miles off” where they want to be.
The Blues sit fourth, 13 points adrift of Larne and seven behind Coleraine, but still hold three matches in hand on the latter.
"Certainly not ideal,” Healy told BBC Sport NI. “We are miles off it.
"We are taking it game by game. We will look at the Coleraine game, try to get a better performance and a better result.
"Coleraine is a difficult place to go. I know there were beaten in their derby so they will look for a response."