COMETH THE HOUR... COMETH LEEMAN; Skipper Paul leads Glens fightback, but Big Mac warns: We must improve jjb sports PREMIERSHIP.

Byline: BY GRANT CAMERON

COLERAINE 1

GLENTORAN 2

GLENTORAN manager Alan McDonald insists his league leaders are still not the finished article.

Despite the fact the Glens are now seven points clear of champions Linfield in the Premiership race McDonald refuses to get carried away of a wave of euphoria.

"I've told the players that we are still not firing on all cylinders," he said. "We need to take more of our chances and make life a little easier for ourselves.

"I remember the way we finished last season and how good we were playing.

When we do click, I will be much happier.

"We need to be scoring more goals to settle matches earlier," he added.

"I can't say I enjoy watching us hanging on to a 2-1 lead. Coleraine threw everything but the kitchen sink at us.

"You just hope nobody is going to make a mistake and let them back into the game.

"That's not comfortable for me." While McDonald believes there is more to come from his players, he insists there is no sense of panic in the changing room.

"I'm not concerned that we are not playing brilliantly at this stage of the season," he said. "We still have a helluva long way to go, another two laps of the marathon if you like and there is time to improve.

"I have good players and a good squad but I need to keep them fit and they have to stay away from silly bookings and suspensions.

That's something we have talked about and are trying to focus on.

"I have made them all aware of certain things we need to tighten up on.

"Games are coming thick and fast. I suppose we are victims of our own success with Setanta Cup games, the Shield and Co-operative Cup on top of the league. There is no let up, so we need to be fit and healthy and have players eligible."

McDonald also believes the Glens' opponents desperately want to have a piece of his title pretenders.

"I have to give credit to David Platt and his players," he said. "Coleraine gave us a very tough game and that's the way it is for us week in and out.

"There are no easy games. I don't feel complacent about any game and hopefully that transmits to the payers. We are very focused for every match. We have to be.

"Let's face it, no-one has a given right to expect three points. I remember going to Seaview a few weeks back and losing because we weren't good enough on the day."

The Oval boss still believes Linfield will be a threat to his team.

The Blues have a game in hand and Mc Donald remembers how his side lost three consecutive games at the start of last month.

"We made a dreadful start to November but thankfully we have bounced back from that," he said.

Significantly only one of those defeats camein the championship and the Glens have still only been beaten once in 17 Premiership fixtures.

McDonald was pleased the way his players hit back from a goal down to claim another victory at the weekend.

"We displayed character," he said. "It was a good solid display and we kept Stephen Carson quiet. He is a quality player who can turn things on their head and it was important for us to contain him."

Coleraine manager David Platt said: "It was only our second defeat at home in the league but we have to pick ourselves up.

"I was disappointed that we didn't push on after we scored and we conceded too much possession to them."

Coleraine haven't managed to win in six games now and Platt knows he faces testing times ahead with Linfield the next challenge on the horizon.

It was as uperbly angled header from striker Richard Gibson which gave Coleraine the lead on 16 minutes. The striker met Carson's cross to head the ball wide of keeper James Taylor for his 10th goal in only 17 appearances.

Gibson almost registered again from another clever assist from Carson. This time the winger squeezed enough space to find Gibson and his shot rolled past the near post.

Glens captain Paul Leeman came to the visitors' rescue though, powering a volley past keeper Davy O'Hare after 36 minutes.

The Glens grabbed their winner in the second-half - the unfortunate Howard Beverland heading into his own net under pressure from Gary Hamilton at a Kyle Neill free-kick.

TOP MAN

PAUL LEEMAN (Glentoran)

Led by example and scored crucial goal

GLENS ODDS ON TO WIN TITLE GLENTORAN 4/7 LINFIELD 6/4 CRUSADERS 16/1 DISTILLERY 50/1 Prices: Paddy Power

'That's only our second home defeat in the league.. but we know we have to pick ourselves up again quickly.'

'I remember the way we finished off last season and how good we were playing.

When we do click, I will be much happier'

CAPTION(S):

NOT SATISFIED McDonald wants his side to develop a ruthless streak; LEEP OF FAITH Glentoran captain Paul Leeman wheels away after scoring equaliser at Coleraine; BANN GLEE Coleraine celebrate Richard Gibson's opening goal; NEILL HIGH Glens celebrate their winner from Neill's free-kick