Crusaders are away this week in the Danske Bank Premiership and second placed Larne at Inver Park is where we go. Crusaders won last time out against Newry City 3-1 in a professional display while Larne will be fresh from their Co. Antrim Shield win on Tuesday night over Linfield.
Stephen Baxter had a first hand view of Larne on Tuesday night as co commentator at the Shield Final and will have a plan to go and beat Larne. We await fitness news on Adam Lecky and Paul Heatley to see if they could even make the bench but they may not be ready yet to join in. Billy Joe Burns returns to the squad after suspension so we could see a reshuffle in defence and midfield to fit him back in and Jordan Forsythe moving further up the field. Stephen and his team though will pick the strongest squad to give it a real go. Last time at Inver Crusaders where overrun early in the game and never recovered so that will not be allowed to happen again.
Larne will be looking to go top of the Premiership subject to Cliftonvilles result and that will keep them going. They will be on a high from the Shield win but Tiernan Lynch will bring his side back down as they get back into league action. Players to watch for Crusaders are Leroy Millar, Fuad Sule and Lee Bonis but the whole side are strong and Crusaders will need to be on top of their game.
Crusaders and Larne have met twice this season with one draw and one Larne win
12/09/22 Crusaders 1 Larne 1
04/11/22 Larne 4 Crusaders 1
Referee Ian McNabb
Asst Referees Paul Robinson & Gavin Hegarty
4th Official Shane Andrews
Let's get behind the lads is the weekly war cry and this week is no different. Go to www.larnefc.com/tickets/ and buy to make sure you are there. The team love to hear you and even more to hear you so get the songs going and be the 12th man. See you there. Keep the Faith. C'mon the Crues.