Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
IT’S A HOWARD PLACE TO GO
CRUSADERS defender Howard Beverland has warned the champions they’ll need their ‘A’ Game in today’s North Belfast derby with Cliftonville at Fortress Solitude.
While the Reds have struggled to pick up on their travels this season, Barry Gray’s men have won their last eight games on home turf.
Beverland also knows Cliftonville will have the bit between their teeth as they bid to hit back from Saturday’s 6-4 loss to Institute at The Brandywell.
Star striker Joe Gormley signing a new three-year deal to keep him at the club until 2023 hasn’t done any harm either. “Barry Gray really won’t have a big team talk to make ahead of Boxing Day,” said Beverland.
“If you’re coming off the back of a defeat, it’s probably the perfect game to try and bounce back in.
“They’re also at home, so we know we’ll have to be at the top of our game.
“The North Belfast derby on Boxing Day speaks for itself and if you’re not up for a fixture of this magnitude, you really have to look at yourself.”
With the Crues lying fourth – seven points off the top with one more game played – Beverland accepts there’s no room for error in the weeks ahead.
“We can’t really afford any slip-ups,” he said. “We really need to come through this busy period with maximum points if we want to keep the pressure on.” Cliftonville are without suspended keeper Brian Neeson who picked up a red card in Saturday’s thriller at the Brandywell.