Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MAKES NO ODDS TO ME
Baxter not listening to media hype as congested title race lies ahead
CRUSADERS manager Stephen Baxter insists media hype or bookies odds won’t distract him from the business of keeping pace with a crowded title race this season.
In recent years the Crues and reigning champions Linfield – who have lifted the Gibson Cup three times apiece in the past six seasons – have been heavily tipped for glory.
But with the recent emergence of big spending Larne and Glentoran and the strength of Coleraine and Cliftonville, this s e a s o n’s title chase promises to be a congested one.
Ahead of ton i g h t ’s c l a s h with l ast season’s runnersup Colerain e, Baxter was asked how he feels about half a dozen teams being talked up instead of the normal two.
“The media writes and talks about football and it’s all part of the picture but none of that really bothers me,” he said.
“Linfield and ourselves have been tipped the past half a dozen years but to see other t e a ms i mp r o v e to the standard they have is superb.
“I think it’s good for the general public we have half a dozen teams being tipped as title contenders and we’re all work- ing really hard to stay in the slipstream of Linfield.”
The Crues, who last lifted th e Gi bs on Cup in 2018, lie three points off early leaders Linfield heading into tonight’s clash with Coleraine.
“It’s going to be a very hard fought league,” said Baxter. “We have Coleraine on Tuesday and Larne on Saturday and both are massive games.
“There’s not a lot between the teams and all the managers know that. You’ ll earn e ver y single point this season - I can assure you of that.”
Ba xt er is bracing himself for a “ding-dong” duel with Coleraine in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
“Games with Coleraine have been big games for a few years now and you know what you’re going to get from them,” he said. “They are always ding-dong games.
“But they all are in this league. We go to Larne at the weekend and they have now come to the party as well and brought something different to the whole process.”
With Linfield and Glentoran not playing, Larne have a chance to go top of the table with a win at Warrenpoint Town, while Cliftonville travel to Dungannon Swifts.