It is League Cup action on Tuesday night at Seaview and fellow Premiership side Coleraine are our opponents (7.45pm) Both sides are in good form in the Premiership but as we all know cup football is a different animal completely and often leads to an action packed game. Crusaders and Declan Caddell will view the game as a possible route to silverware in the first season whwile Dean Shiels will see it as a marker to where he wants his team to aim for. Both sides of course have met in the final of this competition twice before back in 2012 when Crusaders won 1-0 to lift the trophy but Coleraine won in 2020 winning 2-1.
Declan Caddell will assess the squad ahead of the game with injuries and niggles possibly playing a part in selection plus any returning squad members who may get game time. Jordan Stewart may start this one after coming off the bench on Friday night while Philip Lowry and Stewart Nixon could also be given a nod if Declan Caddell feels some players who started last time out need a rest. The spirited second half display on Friday night in the North Belfast Derby will have given the team a boost and they will be wanting more of the same in this game. It will still be a strong team and one that will be more than capable of getting a positive result.
Dean Shiels Coleraine have had a stop start type of season and will view this cup game as a chance to build on their latest form of two wins in the Premiership . Matthew Shevlin will be the main threat having scored a hat trick on Saturday past and his side will have their tails up with such a convincing win so Crusaders will need to be wary from the start. Coleraine will look back at Octobers game at Seaview when they lost 2-1 in a good game and will hope that it doesn't happen again.
So a game not to be missed and we want as many passionate supporters there as possible. Your support is needed for this one and we want you there. Season Tickets are NOT valid for this game so you can get your ticket from three different sources.
It would be great to see you on Tuesday night so wrap up in your favourite colours and get behind Declan and the team. C'mon the Crues.