Coleraine look to restore pride

Coleraine head coach Ruaidhri Higgins admits watching the 5-0 first leg defeat to HJK Helsinki back in training this week was 'uncomfortable viewing' for both management and players.

Some questionable defending contributed to the heavy defeat in the Finnish capital, a result which all but renders Thursday's second leg at Inver Park meaningless.

It was a thoroughly disappointing return to European club competition for the Bannsiders whose first league game comes in just over a week's time away at beaten Irish Cup finalists Dungannon Swifts.

The question now is what way does Higgins and the club approach the return game against HJK?

"Well, we would be hoping to restore a bit of pride, to get some sort of result," the head coach said.

"On the other side, it's an opportunity to get players that need it minutes before next weekend.

"The ironic thing is we played some good stuff over there but we should have done a lot better for the goals.

"We watched the game back and it was uncomfortable viewing," he added.

"I'm not excusing the goals but a lot of things conspired against us."

The manner of the defeat has reignited the argument over whether the Irish League would be better served by switching to summer football.

Coleraine have played a small number of pre-season friendlies while their European opponents are well into their competitive season: and it showed.

"It is a problem, European games coming in our pre season," admitted Ruaidhri Higgins.

"We need to be at full tilt for games like this and while people might not like change summer football would help us, no doubt.

"As I said, we're not excusing the goals we conceded in the first game, but hopefully we can better on Thursday.

"You have to learn, we're not shying away from it, and there's no doubt we'll be much better physically this week."