Bet McClean League Cup
HIGH-FLYING Coleraine will hope to clinch a place in this season’s Bet McClean League Cup quarter-finals as they travel to a wounded Crusaders side this evening, weather permitting.
The Bannsiders avenged last season’s Irish Cup final defeat to Linfield after they beat the Blues in a top-of-the-table clash last weekend.
While controversy surrounded Jamie McGonigle’s winning goal, which led to another dismissal for Linfield manager David Healy, there is do disputing Coleraine’s title credentials this season.
They lead at the top by five points while the Crues slumped to their second league defeat of the campaign, going down 3-2 at home to Glenavon.
Despite their sprint start to the season, defender David Ogilby played down suggestions of Coleraine staying in the title mix.
“We aren’t even thinking about leagues at this stage of the season,” he said.
“We are enjoying it at the minute and hungry for three points, and as defenders we are hungry for clean sheets.
“I’ve been in this league long enough not to get carried away, there’s a long winter ahead.”
Coleraine’s Brad Lyons (20) fractured each of his cheekbones in Saturday’s 2-1 victory and faces a long lay-off.
Elsewhere, Ards have it all to do in their last 16 clash this evening in trying to stop Glenavon, the highest scorers in the Premier Division with 31 goals
Colin Nixon’s men are finding the going tough on their return to the top flight football but with home advantage they’d hope to join Cliftonville, Linfield, Ballyclare, Dungannon, Carrick Rangers and Ballymena United in the last eight.
Bet McClean League Cup: Ards v Glenavon; Crusaders v Coleraine (7.45pm)
