Coleraine 1-2 Glentoran
Jordan Jenkins headed Glens in front after half an hour before Kodi Lyons-Foster doubled lead
Matthew Shevlin scored late consolation for Coleraine
Glentoran unbeaten in 15 games and cut gaps to leaders Linfield to 17 points
Coleraine remain in eighth
Coleraine 0-0 Glentoran
Glentoran's Jordan Jenkins gets us underway on a bitterly cold night on the north coast.
Let's hope the action on the pitch heats us up on this St Valentine's Day night.
Who said romance was dead...
Coleraine v Glentoran (19:45 GMT)
Image source, InphoGlentoran manager Declan Devine says his side have "a lot of goals left to achieve" after clinching their first silverware for five years when they lifted the County Antrim Shield by beating Larne in the decider at Seaview in January.
The Shield triumph helped Devine win the January Northern Ireland Football Writers' Manager of the Month award.
The east Belfast side are well in the running to increase their trophy haul this term, as they will face Cliftonville in the BetMcLean Cup final on 9 March and have reached the last eight of the Irish Cup, in which they will play Bangor on 28 February.
"There are good opportunities and we want to take every opportunity afforded to us," said Devine.
"At a club of the magnitude of Glentoran it's an expectation [to win trophies]. We were delighted [to win the Shield] but it comes with the territory. It was an amazing night and seeing the supporters, a lot of supporters haven't seen Glentoran lift a trophy in a long time."
Coleraine v Glentoran (19:45 GMT)
No stranger to Coleraine of course, midfielder Stephen Lowry is still going strong in the championship.
He won a Gibson Cup and Irish Cup with Linfield, whilst he picked up a League Cup with the Bannsiders as well as making over 370 appearances over two spells for the club, but at 38-years-old has been a driving force behind Limavady's promotion push.
Back for his third spell with his hometown club after signing in the summer, Lowry is starring as they seek to reach the top flight.
Read more here
Image source, Inpho / PacemakerStephen Lowry is back for his third spell with hometown club Limavady United
Coleraine v Glentoran (19:45 GMT)
It was far from a classic when Glentoran hosted Dungannon last time out but what a goal it was to win it!
Some hit from Danny Amos who has since agreed a new contract at the Oval.
Watch: Amos scores 'special' last-minute-winner for Glens
Coleraine v Glentoran (19:45 GMT)
Coleraine boss Dean Shiels said that his side are "feeling good about themselves" after their recent upturn in league form.
The Bannsiders have picked up four points from their last two games and Shiels believes there is more to come from his side as they look to put together a run of good results that can take them into the top six.
"There's a good feeling in the camp; I think over the last few weeks, performances have been pretty good and we're starting to get points on the board," he said.
Read more here
Image source, InphoColeraine boss Dean Shiels
Coleraine v Glentoran (19:45 GMT)
There's been plenty of business at the Oval of late, both in terms of new signings and contract extensions.
One man whose future remains uncertain however, is key midfielder Fuad Sule
"We know exactly what he brings," said manager Declan Devine.
"He said himself the conversations have been had [about a new contract] but he wants to discuss his future closer to the end of the season and that's fine because we trust him, and we are extremely lucky to have him."
You can read more about what Devine had to say about the former Larne man here, while he'll also be a guest on tomorrow's Sportsound on Radio Ulster from 2pm.
Image source, InphoColeraine v Glentoran (19:45 GMT)
Head coach Dean Shiels shuffles his pack following last Saturday's hard earned 1-0 win at Carrick Rangers as leading scorer Matthew Shevlin, Connor Murray and Paddy Burns all drop to the bench.
In their place come Dean Jarvis, Jamie McGonigle and midfielder Ronan Doherty, who returns after illness.
Glentoran manager Declan Devine, manager of the month for January, makes two changes to the team which scored a last minute winner in last week's 1-0 win over Dungannon Swifts.
Finley Thorndike starts on the bench while David Fisher misses out completely. In come Joe Thomson, back after suspension, and experienced campaigner Shane McEleney.
Coleraine: Brown, Kane (c), Jarvis, Boyle, Campbell, Scott, McGonigle, Ives, Doherty, Dunne, McManus.
Subs: Little, Stewart, Shevlin, Murray, Spence, Burns, Smith.
Glentoran: Gyollai, Lyons-Foster, Kane (c), Sule, Palmer, Thomson, McEleney, Amos, Pattison, Russell, Jenkins.
Subs: Mills, Hvid, Connolly, Coll, Lindsay, Douglas, Thorndike.
Referee: Ben McMaster.
Image source, BBC SportColeraine v Glentoran
Coleraine v Glentoran (19:45 GMT)
What else would you be doing on Valentine's Day?
Lovers of Glentoran and Coleraine are in for a treat as we bring you live coverage of this Irish Premiership clash from the Showgrounds.
The Glens are unbeaten in 14 and second in the table but Dean Shiels' side have been showing signs of improvement over the past two weeks and would jump back into the top six with a win tonight.
We'll bring you the game here and on iPlayer from 19.30 GMT and will have live-text coverage right here too.
Image source, InphoHighlights: Glens edge Coleraine to extend unbeaten run
Headed goals in either half from Jordan Jenkins and Kodi Lyons-Foster helped earn Glentoran a 2-1 win at Coleraine and extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 15 games.
Matthew Shevlin halved the deficit in the final minute of normal time with his 17th league goal of the season but the Glens held on for all three points.
Glentoran broke the deadlock just after the half-hour mark from the only bit of quality in the opening 45 minutes.
Danny Amos swung a free-kick from the right into the heart of the Coleraine defence where Jordan Jenkins outjumped Lyndon Kane to head past Rory Brown from 12 yards.
The home side failed to muster an attempt on goal in the first half and were forced into an early reshuffle when striker Declan McManus hobbled off to be replaced by top scorer Shevlin.
Strike partner Jamie McGonigle forced Glens' keeper Daniel Gyollai into his first save of the night two minutes after the restart with a well-taken free-kick before Levi Ives blasted a second dead ball high over the crossbar moments later.
At the other end Christie Pattisson passed up a brilliant opportunity to double his side's advantage on the hour when he shot straight at Coleraine 'keeper Rory Brown after being put through by Jenkins.
But the Glens got the second goal their efforts deserved with seven minutes remaining when Lyons-Foster rose highest at the back post to direct his header past the despairing dive of Rory Brown from a Marcus Kane cross.
It looked all over at this stage but Shevlin's late goal ensured a nervy final few minutes for the visitors who close the gap on leaders Linfield to 17 points with two games in hand.
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Linfield | 28 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 53 | 21 | 32 | 64 |
|
| 2 | Glentoran | 26 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 33 | 22 | 11 | 47 |
|
| 3 | Dungannon Swifts | 27 | 12 | 4 | 11 | 37 | 32 | 5 | 40 |
|
| 4 | Crusaders | 28 | 12 | 4 | 12 | 35 | 39 | -4 | 40 |
|
| 5 | Larne | 23 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 27 | 18 | 9 | 39 |
|
| 6 | Cliftonville | 27 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 36 | 29 | 7 | 39 |
|
| 7 | Portadown | 27 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 35 | 32 | 3 | 39 |
|
| 8 | Coleraine | 27 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 40 | 38 | 2 | 35 |
|
| 9 | Ballymena United | 25 | 10 | 3 | 12 | 30 | 33 | -3 | 33 |
|
| 10 | Glenavon | 25 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 26 | 33 | -7 | 31 |
|
| 11 | Carrick Rangers | 27 | 5 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 41 | -19 | 22 |
|
| 12 | Loughgall | 26 | 3 | 4 | 19 | 25 | 61 | -36 | 13 |
|
Manager: Dean Shiels
Manager: Declan Devine
Manager: Dean Shiels
Manager: Declan Devine
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