Crusaders manager Declan Caddell expressed that “confidence is low” following a 4-0 defeat to Linfield at Windsor Park.
The match started poorly for Crusaders, with a Lewis Barr own goal giving Linfield the lead just five minutes in, followed by a goal from Matthew Fitzpatrick later in the first half.
Advertisement
In the second half, Callumn Morrison netted twice, extending Linfield’s advantage and marking Crusaders’ second 4-0 loss within the week.
Currently, Caddell’s team sits in 11th place, maintaining an eight-point gap above Glenavon at the bottom of the table.
“There were moments in the game that I thought we performed well, but conceding so early disrupted our game plan,” Caddell told BBC Sport NI.
“It’s a tough situation. Confidence is low at the moment, and we approached this match hoping everything would go our way.
“We need to return to basics and improve decision-making. The first goal was a ball whipped in that led to an own goal from just two yards away at the back post. Such mistakes shouldn’t happen at this level, and unfortunately, they are occurring far too often.”
Advertisement
Crusaders have now gone five games without a win and haven’t found the back of the net in their last four matches.
Despite being active in the summer transfer window, Caddell acknowledged that he faces “big decisions” for the upcoming January window.
“January will be an important month with the transfer window opening,” Caddell noted.
“We’ve given players chances, and some have really grabbed those opportunities, but ultimately, I need to make some significant decisions regarding the squad moving forward.
“Mistakes are a part of football, but they can’t happen week after week, which is why we find ourselves in this situation.”