Crusaders had Gareth McKeown sent-off at Newry Showgrounds

Stephen Baxter said he would not be losing any sleep over the defeat at Newry which meant his Crusaders side missed out on going top of the table.

The Crues lost for only the second time in the Premiership and Baxter was not happy about some refereeing decisions.

"I feel a couple of decisions went harshly against us and changed the course of the game," said boss Baxter.

"I have spoken to the officials who are honest guys. I said my piece and can sleep tonight because I said it."

Baxter admitted the Crues had contributed to their own downfall as a mistake by Colin Coates saw them go behind to a Lee Feeney goal after just 21 seconds.

"We made an elementary error which you do not often see at this level," added the Seaview manager.

"Colin is a tremendous young man, a great individual. He held his hands up and was distraught about it.

"But what can you say? He knocked it back too casually and we were a goal down before the game had really started.

"But we had 89 minutes to put it right and we could not do it because we got a man sent-off.

"We threw everything at them in the second half and then had a dubious penalty given against us in the last minute.

"We took the game too them. We were camped in their half with 10 men.

"But I am not going to lose any sleep over this. It is one of these things in football.

"There are 11 other teams in this league who can challenge anybody.

"We have got to the right end of the table but if you lose a few games you will find yourself quickly falling.

"We have given away five points in the last two games, and those points would have put us in a nice position."

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