Stephen Baxter staying calm as Crusaders continue on high-stakes path

Crusaders boss Stephen Baxter wants his players to relax - in the serious drive for this season’s silverware.
Crusaders manager Stephen Baxter. Pic by Pacemaker.Crusaders manager Stephen Baxter. Pic by Pacemaker.
Crusaders manager Stephen Baxter. Pic by Pacemaker.

Baxter’s experienced Crues visit Larne this evening holding a slender single-point advantage towards the top of the table.

The meeting between a Crusaders club steeped in success across the past decade with a Larne side aiming to cap significant progress in recent seasons with senior honours suggests a thrilling Danske Bank Premiership date.

Having already lined out against Linfield, Coleraine and Cliftonville - some of the top-flight’s other sides tipped to feature in the title race - it offers Crusaders the latest challenge across a campaign of high hurdles to overcome in pursuit of the main prizes.

“I had a word with one or two of the boys early in the season, I told them to relax and enjoy their football,” said Baxter in the aftermath of the midweek victory over Coleraine thanks to Jordan Owens’ sole goal. “People like Chris Hegarty, I want him to play with the swagger he played with at Dungannon.

“It was all a little bit lively for him when he came here, he now looks like a real player...he was outstanding against Coleraine.

“Him and BJ Burns were absolutely superb.

“Ben Kennedy, who has just signed for us, is another one...he is getting adapted to what we do, I’ve no doubt we’ll see a brilliant player in the near future.

“And in Gary Thompson and Philip Lowry, I think they are playing the best football I’ve ever seen them play.

“You simply can’t leave them out, so people must wait their turn.

“It’s now important to get a few of the boys fit again.

“Paul Heatley is carrying a little injury, Rodney Brown is also struggling.

“It was great to have BJ back and that was a plus and Aidan Wilson is also available again, you need all the options going forward.”

Baxter can recall a previous trip to Inver Park which left the Crues on the losing side of a 4-0 scoreline across October’s Co Antrim Shield tie.

“The last time we were there we lost 4-0,” he said. “The league is what it’s all about.

“Managers are chasing big performances all the time, the five performances we have had in the campaign so far have been excellent.

“Our only defeat was at Linfield in a game where I thought we deserved to draw.

“We are off to a reasonable start, but that’s all it is, we’ve another 33 big challenges ahead of us.”

Larne striker Johnny McMurray remains positive for continued progress despite frustration at a 1-1 midweek draw against Warrenpoint Town.

“There’s a process, we know we are on the right track,” McMurray told the Larne social media platforms. “We’ve built and strengthened the team since last year.”

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