On the touchline, bar one telling off from the fourth official, Ferguson was a largely restrained figure as he marauded around his technical area, occasionally bellowing orders to his players or giving them hearty claps of encouragement.

Coming up against a Coleraine side who were the highest scorers in the division this season, defeat would have left Glentoran some 17 points off the Bannsiders before the end of October.

With that in mind, Ferguson opted for a solid foundation to contain Coleraine, although he felt his side were "too passive in our shape" as Cooper curled home a delightful opener.

Matthew Shevlin stuck the post and Glentoran goalkeeper Andrew Mills made a couple of strong saves, but the visitors pressed forwards as they started to "gamble".

As in his playing days, grit and determination were at the fore and the Glens deserved their equaliser as Stewart's late header rescued a point.

For one of the smallest players on the pitch, who Ferguson has already named "the wee man", it was a finish the former Everton and Newcastle United striker would have been proud of.

"They have a lot of attacking threats but, aside from the boy sticking one in the top corner, we restricted them in the first half.

"We've come to the best team in the league and in the second half I felt we went toe-to-toe with them."