Irish Premier League: Defeat to Larne ‘unacceptable’ – Higgins

Coleraine manager Ruaidri Higgins said the “honeymoon period is over” after his side lost 2-1 to Larne at the Coleraine Showgrounds.

Leroy Millar and Sean Graham scored late in the first half to give the visitors the lead with Conor McKendry going close to scoring Larne’s third goal before the half-time whistle.

Despite Matthew Shefflin’s late goal, Coleraine were unable to stage a dramatic late comeback with Higgins describing the performance from his side as “unacceptable”.

The result means that, for the first time this season, Ruaidri Higgins’ side have suffered back-to-back defeats after losing to Cliftonville on Saturday.

“That’s what I said there, the honeymoon period is over,” Higgins told BBC Sport.

“We all have to step up and we will see in the coming days what we really are and it is important that we respond in the right way to four bad days.

“I demand that we respond in the right way, that we get back on the horse and start winning football games.”

Following Higgins’ appointment late last season, Coleraine has made an impressive start to the season and was top of the table in the match against Enver Reds.

However, Gary Haveron’s side are now top of the table, two points ahead of the Bannsiders with a game in hand.

“You can accept defeat, but the manner of defeat was really unacceptable,” Higgins added.

“There is a collective responsibility there. I think we are all responsible.

“I think they did something against us. They came and sat down and tackled us.

“We were weak in some parts of the game which is very disappointing and a really unacceptable performance.”