Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
HOT IN THE CITY
Reds skipper is relishing tasty Belfast derby
CLIFTONVILLE captain Chris Curran is bracing himself for “extra bite” in today’s Irish Cup shootout with fierce rivals Crusaders at Solitude.
With North Belfast bragging rights up for grabs and a place in the last eight at stake, there’ll be no quarter given in the tie of the round.
Add in the fact it is now 1,218 days since the Reds overcame Stephen Baxter’s men in any competition and the sixth round showdown is awash with sub plots.
Curran said: “It’s a big derby and a massive competition for both clubs, so there’ll be a bit of extra bite. It’s the tie of the round and it should be a good game for the neutral.
“We’re under no illusions, it’s a massive task, but we’re at home and looking forward to it. It’s a cup tie, so it really does come down to who performs on the day.”
Crusaders have beaten the
Reds three times already this season – in the County
Antrim Shield and twice in the league – and are currently 14 unbeaten against their nearest rivals.
The last time Cliftonville recorded a win over the Crues was back in October 2014 when a stunning solo effort from Joe Gormley secured a 1-0 victory at Seaview.
Curran said: “There’s no point hiding from it, they’ve had the upper hand over us for quite a while now.
“When I joined the club (in 2013),
we had such a good record against Crusaders and I never thought the recent run would happen. It’s important we change that trend.”
Crusaders, who won the Shield 10 days ago, are seeking a quickfire response to Tuesday’s shock 2-1 defeat to Dungannon Swifts in the Betmclean League Cup semi finals.
It was the league leaders’ first defeat in 24 outings in all competitions – dating back to October – and brought an end recent media talk of
a potential clean sweep. Cliftonville meanwhile are seeking a similar boost after Monday’s 1-1 league draw with Glenavon made it just two wins in eight since Christmas.
Curran, wearing the captain’s armband in the absence of injured midfielder Ryan Catney, said: “Our recent form has been mixed and there’s been inconsistency in terms of performances and results.
“Form definitely goes out the window when two derby rivals meet in the cup, but it’s important we get back on the run of form we were showing before Christmas.”
With a high profile League Cup semi-final with Ballymena United lying in wait on Tuesday night, Curran accepts Barry Gray’s men are staring at a “defining” period.
“It’s a massive week for us,” said the talented midfielder. “We have a huge cup tie on Saturday and then the opportunity to reach the League Cup final. We have a lot to play for.”