MANAGER'S VIEW: Our confidence 'disintegrated' after nightmare start at The Showgrounds, rues Crusaders manager Declan Caddell
Declan Caddell admits the confidence quickly sapped from his players after a 4-1 defeat to Coleraine.
The Hatchetmen found themselves 3-0 down on the Ballycastle Road inside eight minutes as the hosts ruthlessly put them to the sword.
After trailing 4-0 through Senan Devine’s second for the Bannsiders, the visitors did have some joy when 15-year-old debutant Michael Mulholland found the back of the net.
NOT THE START YOU WANTED?
“Conceded in the first minute is a nightmare, conceding three in the first seven minutes, even worse.
"I think it was the first three balls that were played forward by Coleraine.
"We came out sleeping, they didn't. They came out and scored the first goal, you get a goal in the first minute, never mind three in seven minutes, it breeds confidence.
"To be honest, their confidence lifted and ours disintegrated.
"I can't fault the work rate and I can't fault the effort of the players.
"They left everything on the pitch but you can't come to places like this and give away three goals in seven minutes and expect to get anything out of them.
JUST AS SIMPLE AS FALLING ASLEEP?
"First one is a long diagonal ball...The players in that position lose first header, lose second contact goal. Second one, same again.
"It probably goes down to a wee bit of communication, to be honest.
"But caught napping and a wee bit of quality as well, probably third finish too, so it is what it is.
"As I said, I'm not going to be hard on the boys, they've been outstanding from the start of the season, we're not going to be the only team that comes up here and gets beat four this season.
FANS STUCK WITH YOU TO THE END?
"The fans were absolutely outstanding from start to finish.
"And to be standing and giving the boys a round of applause coming into the game after 4-0, it would be remiss of me not to mention it because I thought the noise they made from the first whistle to the end was outstanding.
"We need that every single week and they have done that from the start of the season – so long may it continue.
"Hopefully those boys will also get a bounce off it.