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Larne boss Tiernan Lynch looks for a reaction after loss to Linfield

Larne manager Tiernan Lynch watched his side lose 1-0 to Linfield on Tuesday evening and wants to see a reaction when they host Coleraine on Friday night Picture: Pacemaker
Larne manager Tiernan Lynch watched his side lose 1-0 to Linfield on Tuesday evening and wants to see a reaction when they host Coleraine on Friday night Picture: Pacemaker Larne manager Tiernan Lynch watched his side lose 1-0 to Linfield on Tuesday evening and wants to see a reaction when they host Coleraine on Friday night Picture: Pacemaker

LARNE boss Tiernan Lynch has challenged his players to show their ability to bounce back when they welcome Coleraine to Inver Park tonight.

The league leaders lost 1-0 away to Linfield on Tuesday, in what was just a second league defeat in their opening 16 outings.

After the previous defeat – a 4-0 thumping at Glentoran – the Invermen came roaring back in style the next time out, winning 4-1 at home to Crusaders.

Lynch feels this is the blueprint for his side as they take on Oran Kearney’s men under the lights at Inver Park.

“The key for us is to dust ourselves off and not get too down about this,” he said.

“Windsor Park is obviously a really difficult place to come. Linfield have won four of their last five and have found a bit of form.

“We have taken that one on the chin and looked at some of the areas we probably could have done a little better in and then we look forward to get back out on Friday.

“The players went through a recovery session and then it was about looking forward to what we need to do against Coleraine.”

Overall it has been a positive start to the campaign for Lynch’s side. They go into this evening’s game five points clear of Cliftonville at the summit, having also booked their place in the County Antrim Shield final.

The Larne boss has personally watched tonight’s opposition and has urged his side to be really for the challenge.

“We have to be very positive,” Lynch added.

“It’s always difficult when you lose a game, but we know the key was to get over it and look at how you are going to respond.

“We know the challenge before us against Coleraine – they are a good side.

“I went to watch them on Saturday against Glenavon. They are big, they are strong and they are physical.

“They seem to have gone to gone back to what they were before, in terms of how they play and they are very good at it.

“For us to get anything out of this one on Friday night we are going to have to be at our very best.”

Michael Newberry settled Tuesday’s encounter with Linfield, heading in a textbook Kirk Millar free-kick.

Larne boss Lynch was disappointed to see the game decided by a set-piece.

He added: “We’re probably more disappointed in the manner in which we lost the game

“We probably saw it as a game of two halves. In the first half we moved the ball well and got into some good positions in what I felt was quite a dominant half from us.

“In the first 10 or 15 minutes of the second we struggled to get out of our half a bit. It felt like set piece after set piece against us.

“We’re probably a bit disappointed in the manner we gave away some of the set pieces, but I also felt some of the free-kicks against us weren’t free-kicks.

“Overall, I felt we needed to do more in the second half. We probably needed to get a foothold in the second half, because we spent too long defending set pieces.”