Stewart’s late header earns Glentoran draw in Ferguson’s first match

Duncan Ferguson began his spell as Glentoran manager with a 1-1 draw at Irish Premiership leaders Coleraine after Jordan Stewart headed a late equaliser. BBC Sport NI reported that Stewart scored with two minutes remaining, cancelling out Joel Cooper’s first-half opener and securing a point after the visitors improved following the interval.

The match became Ferguson’s debut after his scheduled first fixture, against Ballymena United, was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch at the Oval. That left the former Everton striker facing the league leaders away from home for his introduction to the competition. Ferguson acknowledged feeling nervous before the game and said afterwards that he would have accepted a draw before kick-off.

Glentoran initially concentrated on limiting a Coleraine attack that had scored more goals than any other side in the division this season. Cooper broke through with a curling finish, however, and Ferguson felt his team had been too passive in their defensive shape. The hosts also threatened through Matthew Shevlin, who hit the post, while Glentoran goalkeeper Andrew Mills made important saves.

The visitors became more adventurous after the break and eventually earned their reward through Stewart’s header. Ferguson praised the determination behind the comeback, telling the BBC that his side had competed on equal terms with Coleraine in the second half. He also expressed relief at taking something from a demanding opening assignment and credited the players for their performance under pressure.

The result avoided a defeat that would have left Glentoran 17 points behind Coleraine before the end of October. It also gave Ferguson a point from his first Irish Premiership match following previous managerial spells at Forest Green Rovers and Inverness Caledonian Thistle. He had additionally served as Everton’s interim manager in 2019 and 2022.

Ferguson has acknowledged that he arrived with limited knowledge of the league and has sought guidance from Elliott Morris and Andy Matheson at Glentoran. His preparations included watching Coleraine beat Crusaders at Seaview after the Ballymena postponement, as well as attending a Glentoran Under-20s match during the week. His next fixture is away to Carrick Rangers, with the Coleraine draw providing an opening result built on a second-half recovery.