Irish Premiership: Coleraine netted 'three outstanding goals'
Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins has praised his side's "brilliant response" after the Bannsiders returned to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Linfield at the Coleraine Showgrounds.Joel Cooper broke the deadlock seven minutes after the restart before Jamie McGonigle's stylish finish doubled their advantage.It looked like the Blues found a lifeline when Chris McKee converted from the spot, but Will Patching restored Coleraine's two-goal lead with the final action of the game."We got a brilliant response from the players and three outstanding goals," Higgins told BBC Sport NI."Joel has grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and put the ball in the back of the net, McGonigle has a brilliant inside of the foot half volley into the far corner and Patching has got an outstanding goal."We are just disappointed we couldn't keep a clean sheet, but we created lots of chances tonight."The result puts to an end Coleraine's run of two defeats in a row but extends Linfield's losing streak to three matches.However, Higgins added that in the first half the defending league champions were "the best team" that his side have faced."I felt in the first half Linfield were really, really good. I know we created a few opportunities, but they caused us problems with our shape, they were inventive and it took us a while to get to grips with it," he continued."Once we did, I felt we created plenty of opportunities, particularly on the counter-attack."Probably in the first period of the game, the best team we have come up against, particularly at the Showgrounds."
