Commitment, hunger and desire needed by Crusaders in derby tussle against Cliftonville

The Hatchetmen were edged out by the league leaders last time out as Benji Magee's low strike proved to be the difference in north Belfast.

However, Crusaders were always in the game and had several sights of goal to earn a share of the spoils, but ultimately, had nothing to show for their efforts.

Manager Declan Caddell was dismissed after the Crues had a late penalty award reversed by referee Tony Clarke as they fell to a fifth-straight league defeat.

Despite finding themselves one-from-bottom in the standings, Rainey is hoping they can turn performances into putting points on the board in a bid to climb the table.

He said: "If we can get commitment levels like that week in and week out, especially when you're playing top teams like that, it should give them the confidence that we are a decent team.

"If we can take that into the next game and the next game and the next game, then hopefully we can actually take the tide here and maybe get a few results.

"We are going to play football in a certain way, and hopefully it can turn sooner rather than later.

"The amount of chances we created last Saturday...I could pick two or three from the first half, three or four from the second half where better contact might have brought a goal.

"Fraser Bryden would usually stick that one (second half header) in nine times out of ten, but it just didn't go in, it just wouldn't go in for us against Larne despite the amount of pressure we put them under.

"But the commitment, the hunger and desire was there and we want the same from the players against Cliftonville."

Crusaders have prepared for the derby by coming in on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to finalise their game plan.

Despite Cliftonville having better results in recent weeks than their derby foes, Rainey - who featured for Crusaders in many north Belfast derbies - knows the form guide goes out the window.

"Some of the boys haven't even played against Cliftonville at all because the match was cancelled here, so it'll be a new experience for them," he added. "It should be an experience that they're looking forward to.

"And as I say, with coming off the back of a poor result but a great performance, I would like to think we can take that up the road with us. It wouldn't matter if we're home on Friday or back up there. We should be really looking forward to it.

"You can never call a north Belfast derby, no matter who's on the run of form. It can only take one silly tackle or whatever and you're down to ten. Or it could be a boring draw and next minute somebody scores one late on."

Cliftonville played out a 1-1 draw against Bangor last time out as Ryan Curran's opener for the Reds was cancelled out by Ben Arthurs, who capitalised upon a mistake from Jonny Addis to find the back of the net.