Coleraine manager Ruaidhrí Higgins said his side helped cause their own 5-0 defeat by HJK in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League second qualifying-round tie. The result leaves the Northern Irish club facing an extremely difficult task in next week’s home leg, with Higgins particularly frustrated by the defending and timing of the goals conceded.

HJK led 2-0 at half-time through Liam Moller and Pyry Mentu, before Toivo Mero and a Teemu Pukki double completed the rout. Higgins said Coleraine were makeshift and short of match fitness compared with opponents in the middle of their domestic season, but refused to use that as an excuse; Aidan Wilson and Mark Coyle also left the match with suspected serious injuries.