Former Glentoran captain Paul Leeman, who was on the sport as a co-commentator for BBC Sport NI, mentioned that Higgins’ facet produced a “completely dominant show” in easing to victory.
“From the beginning of the sport they got here out with an actual function, took the sport to Crusaders early on and it appeared like it could be tough for Crusaders to include them,” he added.
“The second half they have been skilled. They managed the sport, managed the sport and we noticed some nice targets. Coleraine actually confirmed their high quality.”
Leeman singled out Wylie and Devine as standout performers, with each making significant contributions on a day through which the league’s prime scorer Matthew Shevlin struggled and missed a giant likelihood to attain.
With the sport all however over as a contest after 40 minutes, the largest problem for Coleraine within the second half was the weather, which Higgins remarked have been “as unhealthy as you will see”.
“The rain and wind blowing a gale, it was tough however I believed our gamers have been actually skilled, utilized themselves brilliantly and we bought to make use of our squad at the moment as properly which was vital.”
A raft of second-half modifications, together with the introductions of the likes of Brooks, Lyndon Kane and Joe Thomson confirmed Coleraine’s depth and helped them hold the depth excessive in opposition to a younger Crues facet, with everybody determined to stake a declare to play a larger function in upcoming huge video games in opposition to Glentoran and Linfield.
The stats make good studying for Higgins’ males, who’re dwelling as much as the billing as favourites to finish a 52-year await the Gibson Cup this season.
The Irish Cup holders have solely dropped 5 factors from their 13 league video games and final season’s prime scorers have already bagged 31 targets throughout this marketing campaign whereas conceding simply 12.
Taking over Glentoran in Duncan Ferguson’s first sport in cost on Friday adopted by an away sport in opposition to in-form Linfield on Saturday, 7 November of their subsequent two video games, each stay on BBC iPlayer, will current a lot stiffer challenges for Higgins’ facet than they confronted in opposition to the Crues.
But, they’ve already proven they will win in many various methods this marketing campaign; whether or not or not it’s ugly in opposition to the likes of Limavady, by coming from behind as they did in opposition to Larne, or in fashionable style befitting of the standard they’ve of their squad, as they did on Saturday.