'Huge three points' for Crues in Boxing Day win

Crusaders assistant manager David Rainey said his side "gave everything and deservedly won" the Boxing Day north Belfast derby by beating Cliftonville 2-1 at Solitude.

An own goal from Ryan Curran and a header from Adam Brooks were enough to give the Crues a much-needed win, despite Odhran Casey scoring a late consolation for Cliftonville.

The victory ended a run of six league games without a win and moved them up to 10th, eight points clear of bottom side Glenavon and Rainey was pleased with his side's endeavours.

"Huge three points. Any time you come here, it's difficult to get anything, but to take three points on Boxing Day is massive for us," he told BBC Sport NI,

"I said last week, coming off the back of a good performance but a bad result [a 1-0 defeat against Larne], that we had to bring that into today, and I think, to a man, for 90 minutes, we gave everything and deservedly won the game."

Rainey singled out goalkeeper Musa Dibaga, who made a string of impressive saves, for praise.

"Big Musa was outstanding. He came for most crosses, made punches, and pulled off a couple of great saves," Rainey added.

"The free-kick save [from Jack Keaney's effort] stands out in the mind, getting down low to his bottom corner. He stood up to everything they threw at us and helped us come away with the win."

Crusaders are next in action on Tuesday, when they host Carrick Rangers at Seaview.

A second successive league win would help the Crues move five points clear of Stephen's Baxter men and pull further away from relegation trouble.

"We know exactly what Carrick will bring. They'll come to try to take three points from us, and we'll have to stand up to that again.

"It's another test and a different one. Today was open, next week could be cagey; it could be all set pieces, who knows? But if we show what we showed today, then we should be okay."