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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
“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,<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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Rainey singled out goalkeeper Musa Dibaga, who made a string of impressive saves, for praise.<\/p>\n
“Big Musa was outstanding. He came for most crosses, made punches, and pulled off a couple of great saves,” Rainey added.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Crusaders are next in action on Tuesday, when they host Carrick Rangers at Seaview.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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