Ballymena United 3-1 Coleraine: Kearney frustrated by Bannsiders' 'indifferent season'

Coleraine manager Oran Kearney believes his side "lacked experience and know-how" as they suffered a 3-1 defeat by derby rivals Ballymena United at the Warden Street Showgrounds on Tuesday.

The Sky Blues recovered from a goal down to secure their fourth Premiership win of the season and a second of the campaign over the Bannsiders.

Coleraine have now won just one of their last eight league outings.

"It's a very bad result. It's very frustrating to lose," said Kearney.

"We don't want to lose matches, don't want to lose derbies or anything else."

Dean Jarvis' header gave the visitors a half-time lead but Johnny McMurray levelled with another headed effort, before a double from substitute Noah Stewart sealed the points for the Braidmen.

Coleraine's misery was compounded by the sending-off of Conor McKendry for a rash challenge in the closing minutes.

The final whistle was met by a chorus of boos from some sections of the away support.

"We got ourselves into a great position and we spoke at half-time about managing the game and getting off to a good start," revealed Kearney.

"We then conceded and it gives them a shot in the arm. We had a bit of a response - we created some opportunities and were maybe unlucky not to go ahead.

"We've lost Conor to a crazy decision that he's made at the end of the game there as well.

"It doesn't have a massive bearing on the outcome of today's game but it has a massive impact for Saturday [at home to Loughgall] and moving forward. It's choices like that that are very frustrating in the midst of it all."

The Bannsiders' poor recent run of form sees them sit sixth in the table, nine points adrift of Crusaders and now just two and three points ahead of Carrick Rangers and Glenavon respectively.

"It's been well documented over the last month or so how tough things have been and it's frustrating. There's no other way to describe it at this point in time," Kearney said.

"Pretty much all of the first half [at Ballymena] is as good an away performance as you would ask for, but for me as soon as the first goal goes in you expect to see character and responses and see people stepping up to the plate. For me, I didn't see enough of that.

"We're missing players, and there are bodies missing from our team at the moment that have the credentials and the wherewithal to do that, but at the minute we lack experience and that bit of know-how and it has hurt us.

"I'm the first one to hold my hands up. This season has been an indifferent one, tough in many different aspects, compounded I suppose by recent results on the pitch as well.

"We've got to fight. January is coming up soon and it's important we use January [the transfer window] smartly.

"We need some fresh blood but we also need to get back some of the players who have missed a huge portion of this season."

After Saturday's visit of Loughgall to Ballycastle Road, Coleraine will entertain Cliftonville in the standout tie of the Irish Cup fifth round.