Stewart Nixon feeling right at home at Coleraine now

The attacker marked his home debut with a goal and a Man of the Match performance as the Bannsiders beat Glenavon on Tuesday night to cut the gap at the top of the Danske Bank Premiership to four points.

However, despite an eye-catching start to his career on the Ballycastle Road, the 22-year-old admits he was nervous about meeting his new team mates.

“In the first couple of weeks after signing, I was a little apprehensive and nervous about coming to such a big club with big characters in the changing room,” herevealed.

“However, I know I’m only going to get better at a club like Coleraine.

“Training and playing with the calibre of players here will only push me on.

“Oran and Niall Currie are similar in the way that they want me to work hard and I’ve loads of energy.

“If I can continue to do that and chip in with goals and assists, then I’ll be happy.”

The Bannsiders are expected to welcome back Ben Doherty from injury for today’s trip to Warden Street, but there will be no Jamie Glackin as the midfielder serves a one-match suspension.

Nixon – who had a previous stint with United – is expecting a different sort of atmosphere on derby day.

“It’s going to be a typical feisty derby game,” he said.

“It’s going to be a different atmosphere to what I was used to at Carrick Rangers which makes it interesting.

“I’m expecting plenty of stick from their supporters but I can give it back as well.

“We have to continue to do the business and prepare for the next game as quickly as we can and see where it takes us.

“I expected to be involved in the big games when I moved as Coleraine are such a good team and I want to keep that going and add to it.”

While the Bannsiders are flying at the top of the league Ballymena are stuck in a winless rut.

Defeat at Dungannon Swifts on Tuesday night means they are still looking for their first league win in 2020.

“We are frustrated - it is another disappointing result,” said defender Jonny Addis. “We started the game well, came out strongly and got out of the blocks quickly.

“We looked dangerous going forward and we looked like we could score goals.

“Their goal probably came against the run of play.

“It came from a set piece and it was poor from our point of view - a really cheap goal to give away.

“That gave Dungannon a foothold in the game and from then on, at least in the first half, they were probably on top. In the second half we came out and huffed and puffed but didn’t really create a lot.

“Dungannon could have got another on the break had they been a bit more clinical.

“It’s another disappointing result, we are on a bad run, but we just have to regroup and try and put it right in our next game.

“We have some big games coming up, starting against Coleraine on Saturday.”