Point in the right direction

Paddy McLaughlin believes both Cliftonville and Coleraine could make a case for being deserving of all three points from yesterday’s Danske Bank Premiership clash at The Showgrounds.

Both goalkeepers made eye-catching stops on a freezing cold afternoon, with the end-to-end nature of the contest perhaps best summed up when Bannsiders striker Eoin Bradley clipped the crossbar ahead of Reds defender Jonny Addis having a shot blocked on the line by Lyndon Kane and then seeing his follow-up superbly kept out by Gareth Deane.

“For a goalless draw, I thought it was an entertaining game,” said McLaughlin.

“Both sides went at it throughout the entire match and they’ve hit the bar and might feel they should have won it, whereas we feel the same after the tremendous save at the other end.

“Both sides could argue they could have won it but a draw is a fair result. The two sides showed a lot of respect to each other as we both nullified key players.”

The Manager was pleased with Cliftonville’s reaction to last Saturday’s defeat by Linfield and credited his players for setting about their task from the off.

“We came here to win as we were disappointed with last week as it took us to go behind to get back at it,” he added.

“We wanted to go at it today from the start. We played some brilliant football on a class surface and the boys enjoyed playing on it. I thought our boys moved the ball brilliantly throughout the game.

“Coleraine are unbeaten at home for a reason, they’re a very good side who are well drilled and well organised. To come away with a point, we are happy enough.”