Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Dec wary of the Red menace..
CRUSADERS midfielder Declan Caddell is bracing himself for a daunting derby duel with a Cliftonville side playing “brilliant” football under Paddy Mclaughlin.
The Reds lie second in the table – just a point above the Crues but with a game in hand – heading into today’s Boxing Day showdown at Seaview.
And Caddell, who scored his first goal of the season in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at table topping Linfield, is predicting fireworks as second and third clash in North Belfast.
“Paddy has his philosophy on football and Cliftonville also signed well in the summer,” he said. “They get the ball down and play attractive, attacking football.
“They’ve been brilliant all season and they’re not leaking as many goals as the last couple of years so they’re a tough team to face.
“But there’s nothing better than the North Belfast derby on Boxing Day and it’s one we’re all looking forward to.”
With only two points separating the top four, it is gearing up to be one of the most open title races in recent memory.
Caddell, who lifted the Gibson Cup with the Crues in 2015, 2016 and 2018, said: “The last few years, there have maybe been two or three teams that pulled away.
“But this season it’s still wide open and I don’t think there’s a lot between the top six. You’re waiting on that team to kick on and win five, six or seven games on the bounce.
“It’s good for the league that so many teams are still in the mix. All we can do is look after ourselves and kick on over Christmas and into the New Year.”