Whitey Anderson believes his side are on the verge of returning to winning ways despite their recent poor run of results. A successful October in which Whitey won the manager of the month award has been followed by three league defeats and a League cup exit, but the boss saw enough in the defeat to Cliftonville to give him hope for the upcoming fixtures.

“Some people are saying it’s the curse of the manager of the month award, but it just shows you how tough this league is,” he said. “They are a good bunch of players and good lads and I know they are hurting but there were lots of positives in the performance. We competed well and we got stuck in. We caused them problems going forward and in the first half Alvin had only one save to make. They scored the first goal with the help of a deflection and it puts our boy’s heads down because goals change momentum of games. I was concerned at 3-0 after Wednesday night’s efforts they could have gone back into their shell but our boys dug deep couple have scored a few more. I was disappointed with the result but very happy with the performance.”

Ballinamallard face another of the League’s in form teams on Friday night when Coleraine come to Ferney Park. The Bannsiders are on a 12 game unbeaten run and Whitey knows his side will have to play well. “Oran Kearney has done a fabulous job,” he said. “They are very quick, energetic and we are certainly going to have to play at our best to get a result, but we are at home and their good run has to come to an end at some time.”

Ballinamallard will be without the suspended Friars and Rouse, but Stefan McCusker should have recovered from a groin strain to return in goal, and McCabe and McCartney are both hopeful of recovering in time to be available for selection.