There's no title talk insists Oran Kearney

The Bannsiders 2-0 win over Crusaders on Friday night closed the gap on league leaders Linfield to two points.

Kearney's men have been on an incredible run of form since December to haul themselves into a title race with the Blues.

But the Bannsiders boss is keeping a lid on any title talk as he knows how quickly things can change in this season of all seasons.

"We're not thinking about titles, we never do," he said.

"If the beginning of this season didn't sober enough people here of what football can do to you and how cut-throat it can be then nothing will.

"We're only off the back of that, we had played eight games and only had eight points when Linfield and Larne had 21 and 23 points.

"We weren't worried about the table at that stage and we still aren't.

"All we can do at this time is try and go out and win our games."

Friday night's win made it 15-games unbeaten for Coleraine but again Kearney said he only looks to the future not was has already past.

"We don't talk about runs," he insisted.

"I've been on runs before where we've gone seven, eight or ten games unbeaten, but there's maybe been five draws in that sequence.

"But it's no good to you from that point of view.

"The past is the past, what we hammer home in the changing room is the future is more important.

"The game against Crusaders was more important than the previous 10 or 12 games.

"Three points is more important to us than unbeaten runs.

"The three points against Crusaders were obviously really important.

"We've stood here after winning other three points this season and it's been a ropey finish or late goals or different ways of trying to get over the line.

"So against the quality of opposition in Crusaders to have managed all aspects of the game makes it more pleasing than anything."

The result put a further dent in Crusaders title aspirations.

Manager Stephen Baxter said said he players were feeling the effects of a busy schedule.

"I never want anything to sound like excuses but we've had a few injuries on the table and ones playing tonight when in other circumstances you would have preferred to have rested them," he said.

"The type of the pitch also sucks it out of you too.

"But that's football and I felt Coleraine just had that little bit more energy about them in the second half.

"We put them under a little bit of pressure in the last ten minutes or so, but we didn't knock on their door enough or put pressure on their back four for a sustained period of time.

"Coleraine have come out as fairly worthy winners."

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