GERARD Lyttle has conceded that Cliftonville’s title challenge is now over after Saturday’s narrow defeat to defending champions and league leaders Crusaders.
The Reds trail their north Belfast rivals by 12 points with Linfield now Crusaders’ main title challengers after the Blues came from two down to beat Coleraine 3-2 at the weekend to keep the gap to seven points.
A third-minute goal from the lively Paul Heatley turned out to the decisive moment at Seaview in what was a feisty derby clash that produced 12 yellow cards and two reds.
Crusaders defender Billy Joe Burns was sent off for a second bookable offence midway through the second half, while Cliftonville’s unused substitute George McMullan was red-carded just before the interval for verbal abuse towards a linesman.
Reds boss Lyttle said: “We’ll never give up but let’s be honest – it is [over]. It’s Crusaders to throw away now. We’ve still got our own targets in terms of Europe and the Irish Cup, so we’ll re-focus and we’ll go again.”
The Reds boss was dismayed by a number of refereeing decisions that included waving away two penalty claims in the second half.
“Big decisions didn’t go our way and I thought the referee was way off the pace. I think we counted [Crusaders midfielder] Decky Caddell committing nine fouls before he got booked, Colin Coates was fouling Darren Murray all day. Levi Ives slips in the corner and gets booked.”
Lyttle added: “I don’t like saying that about the referee because I like Ross Dunlop. [But] I asked the fourth official Raymond Crangle about the first penalty claim and he covers his mike and says ‘All day long a penalty’.
So why didn’t he help the referee out? If it’s a penalty, give a penalty.”
Despite his frustration and disappointment with his own team’s display, Lyttle heaped praise on Stephen Baxter’s side for showing steel to win the game.
“You come down to Seaview and you know what you’re going to get. People are quick to criticise Crusaders and their style of play but it suits them, they get results and they know how to grind a result out. We’ve seen them so many times, I’ve seen them playing poorly but they always seem to get the job done.”
Cliftonville defender Johnny Flynn had a second half headed goal chalked off and the same player had a penalty claim turned down when Jordan Owens appeared to block the shot with his arm.
But the Crues had chances to add to their tally. Jordan Forsythe’s header came back off the Reds crossbar on 68 minutes and Jordan Owens and Heatley were always a threat on the counter-attack.
There were wild celebrations at the end of Saturday’s clash, but match-winner Heatley insists there is nothing won yet.
“I think the celebrations reflected such a hard battle,” said the Crusaders wide man.
“It was a fantastic local derby. A lot of yellows, a couple of reds, it was really important to get those three points. We’re 12 point clear of Cliftonville now.”
Heatley latched onto Billy Joe Burns’ long ball on three minutes, managing to get to it before Cliftonville’s advancing ‘keeper Conor Devlin before tapping into the empty net.
“We got the early goal and we settled into the game but we probably should have scored a couple more,” added Heatley.
“In the second half we showed our class and we were able to see out the game quite comfortably.”
