Crusaders will put the Irish Cup Final on the back burner for a few weeks and concentrate on the final five games of the Danske Bank Premiership starting with Linfield at the National Stadium at Windsor Park on Friday night (7.45pm) Crusaders will still fight the fight until it is mathematically impossible to win the Premiership and the players will of course want to stay in top form to finish the season strongly.
Stephen Baxter could look at his squad depth for this one with games against Coleraine and Larne to follow in a busy week ahead. We may not see Adam Lecky who lasted 45 minutes in last weeks Semi Final but Jarlath O'Rourke will be pushing for a start after coming back to the bench last week at Mourmeview Park. A shuffle in other areas may also be in order as players who came on last week getting a start and vice versa for those who started. We will though still be without Ben Kennedy and Brandon Doyle but Lewis Barr, Jay Boyd, Cameron Stewart may get a chance to shine.
David Healy knows he will have to win five out of five to be in with a shout of the Premiership and a win for the first time in the Premiership against Crusaders this season will show his teams desire and it's something that Crusaders will prepare for. Davids star players have started to shine with Joel Cooper, Kirk Millar and Jamie Mulgrew turning match winning performances in at the right time. Up front Ethan Devine has found form also but Crusaders will have a game plan to counter what Linfield have for them.
Crusaders have met five times this season with Crusaders winning three, losing one and drawing the other
06/08/22 Linfield 0 Crusaders 2 (Charity Shield)
06/09/22 Crusaders 0 Linfield 1 (Co.Antrim Shield)
16/09/22 Crusaders 2 Linfield 1
26/11/22 Linfield 0 Crusaders 0
24/01/23 Crusaders 2 Linfield 0
Referee Shane Andrews
Asst Referees Adam Jeffrey & Andrew Nethery
4th Official Lee Tavinder
Charity Collection Friday 7th April : Brainwaves NI (Ross Larkin).
Having watched or read Ross Larkin’s recent story on his recovery from a brain tumour, many Irish League supporters will have been moved by Ross’s plans to run the Belfast Marathon on 30th April.
Ross will be taking part in the marathon to help raise much needed funds for local charity Brainwaves NI ( www.brainwaves-ni.org )
Prior to our match against Linfield on Friday 7th April, a bucket collection is planned to help boost funds for Ross’s Just Giving Page https://justgiving.com/fundraising/ross-larkin
Any donations will be very much appreciated.
Your support this season has been brilliant and we want you as always with us again. Tickets can be bought via the link https://www.linfieldfc.com/buytickets-awaysupportersales.aspx .Be the 12th man and get right behind Stephen and the lads again. Keep the Faith. C'mon the Crues.