Carrick Rangers boss Niall Currie believes his players deserve more credit than they’re getting for adapting to life in the Danske Bank Premiership in double quick time.
The Taylors Avenue men, promoted from the Championship via the play-offs, have won three of their last four games and are sitting comfortably in eighth.
Saturday’s 2-1 win at Ballymena United eased them 12 points clear of the foot of the table and to within five points of the top six.
Impressive stuff from a team tipped for a relegation scrap at the start ot the season.
“There’s a long way to go, but three wins out of four is fantasy stuff for us,” said Currie.
“If you’d said we’d be sitting where we are this stage, I’d have called you a fool.
“Every win for us is a case of Champagne Supernova, Stewarty Nixon blasts out the Westlife music in the changing room and our Whatsapp Group is bouncing.
“All praise goes to the players and I don’t think they get the credit they deserve at times. Do we deserve more credit? It’s probably the same as myself.
“People pigeon hole me as an ‘up and at em’ manager, but I like to think I’m a wee bit better than that. It’s the same with the players and I can’t praise them highly enough.
“We have some good young players, a couple of really good senior pros, great pace on either side and mobility all over the team. They deserve all the plaudits.”
While Carrick are in a rich vein of form, the Crues, who drew 0-0 at Larne on Monday night, are struggling for form and momentum having gone five league games without a win.
“They’ll be fired up, so we’re under no illusions,” said Currie. “I’ve told the players it’s a free hit. We’re at home and we’ll give it a rattle.”
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