Declan Caddell aware 'results need to improve' as Crusaders aim to climb clear of relegation threat

After falling to their 15th league defeat of the season against Linfield last weekend while Carrick Rangers beat Dungannon Swifts 5-1, Crusaders slipped into 11th – a position which will see the occupant enter a promotion/relegation play-off at the end of this season.

The Crues have a healthy advantage over basement club Glenavon, who are 12 points adrift at the bottom, in a race to avoid an automatic drop and remain only one point behind 10th-placed Ballymena United.

Caddell’s men are in the midst of a tough fixture run with consecutive clashes against Coleraine followed by a visit of Linfield and now leaders Larne on Saturday.

The Crues chief has compiled a talented squad with the likes of Fraser Bryden, who sits top of the Premiership’s goalscoring charts, Elliot Dunlop and Adam Brooks all impressing in their maiden Irish League campaigns.

However, they’ve only won consecutive league matches on one occasion this term while Glenavon (51) are the sole side to have conceded more goals than Crusaders (50) at this stage.

Caddell is well aware of the task at hand and knows it’s crucial his side start delivering results at a vital stage of the season.

"Football waits for nobody,” said Caddell. “It’s a results-based business.

"The fans have to be patient. It’s a transition, I’ve tried to do it slowly, but it’s a year-and-a-half. Injuries haven’t helped with the experience we’ve lost, but it’s given me an opportunity to get one or two in that I desperately need.

"The players are learning every time they’re coming out onto the pitch, it’ll make them stronger, but we're coming now to crunch time at the end of the season so results need to improve, that’s the bottom line.”

Caddell bolstered his squad with the loan arrival of Thomas Maguire, who will be viewed as a replacement for Ross Clarke following his transfer to Glentoran earlier this month.

Having made 75 Premiership appearances at parent club Dungannon Swifts, Maguire helps add crucial experience to a youthful Crues squad and Caddell hopes to see more of the same after an impressive debut last weekend.

"I was really keen when I seen Thomas was available to get him in,” added Caddell. “Obviously we lost Ross Clarke, we’ve had Kieran McKechnie out for the whole season, so we’re lacking in those wide areas.

"It was good to get him a 30-minute cameo (against Linfield). I thought he looked really bright, energetic, really brave on the ball to get at them and he caused Linfield problems when he came on.

"That’s a headache now for me. I want to see more of that, players coming in and giving me a headache after a game.

"He’s a good age. It’s good to have him here and hopefully we can get one or two more senior players to help.”