Carrick Rangers manager Stephen Baxter praised the performances of Billy Joe Burns and Joe Crowe on their first appearances despite a 2-0 defeat to Coleraine. The Premiership match saw Joel Cooper and Ben Doherty score for the visitors, leaving Carrick Rangers without a goal.
How did the debutants perform in their first games?
Stephen Baxter said both Billy Joe Burns and Joe Crowe were excellent in their first games for the club. He highlighted their effort and composure under pressure against a strong Coleraine side. Their performances gave the manager encouragement ahead of future fixtures.
What did Baxter say about the team's overall performance?
The Carrick Rangers boss stated the team set-up was excellent and they tried to take the sting out of Coleraine's attack. He noted the team came back in waves after going behind and made changes from the bench to try to equalise. Baxter added they had good balls into the box but left themselves open at times.
Where did Carrick Rangers go wrong in the match?
Stephen Baxter said a hesitation in midfield led to the first goal, mentioning Aidan Steele in relation to that moment. He also said a bad control pass led to the second goal. Despite these errors, Baxter said he was disappointed with the result but not the performance.
How does this result affect Carrick Rangers' season so far?
Carrick Rangers currently stand 6th in the Premiership with 6 points from 3 games, recording a recent form of LWW. They have scored 3 goals and conceded 3 this season, leaving them level on goal difference. The side is just 1 point behind leaders Coleraine FC, with their next fixture an away trip to Portadown on 2026-12-19.
What comes next for the team after this loss?
Stephen Baxter said Coleraine are a multi-million pound team with great players who practice daily, but his side coped well with their threats. He insisted the team did not lie down after going behind and there wasn't a lot in the match. The focus now shifts to improving consistency as Carrick Rangers aim to climb the table ahead of their fixtures and rely on developing squad depth from the squad.
