Kearney says players will not need rousing for derby

“We will be going into the game on Boxing Day as underdogs given our recent form and Ballymena’s,” he told Times Sport.

“But it’s a derby game and that’s the last note I left with the players in there. They’ll not need any rousing team talks, they should be coming out all guns blazing.”

Coleraine slipped to a seventh league defeat on the bounce on Saturday but Kearney remains positive things will turn.

“Of course you’re concerned when you are on a run like this and it’s not easy to take,” he admitted. “Losing can become a habit just like winning can become a habit and I’ve come through some great times here when we’ve gone on winning runs.

“I wouldn’t be one to normally shout about injuries but we have some big players out at the minute, players who would normally start week in, week out and who have been a big part of our success.

“When you have so many key players sitting watching the game it does leave you struggling. It’s a squad game though and we just have to batten down the hatches and go again. I’m confident things will turn around I wouldn’t be standing here if I didn’t think they would.”