Throw off the shackles and enjoy it, is Stephen Baxter’s message to his players going into the Fifth Round of the Clearer Water Irish Cup on Saturday
Baxter’s Carrick Rangers team play host to Championship club Newry City at Taylor’s Avenue tomorrow (3pm) aiming to break their duck in recent games.
Baxter took over in October with the East Antrim club rooted to the bottom of the Sports Direct Premiership and results have improved since.
Rangers have won three games and drawn six of their twelve games under the former Crusaders boss, but remain in the relegation zone going into the New Year.
Survival in the top flight remains the number one objective for Baxter but he has a soft spot for the Irish Cup, having won it four times while at Seaview.
He insists he will take a pragmatic approach to staying in the Premiership, but equally states the romance of the cup is something special.
“The league is our top priority, but you’ve got to have a wee go in the cup – why enter it if you’re not going to have a go?”, asked the experienced Carrick boss.
“I think it’s a bit of a breath of fresh air away from the regular league games.
“You can be a little bit cavalier in the way you approach it and the way you play and just go and enjoy it, and that’s what we will do.
“We have had a look at Newry and will treat them with the respect they deserve, and it may be a welcome break for them from their travails in the Championship.
“Everybody loves the thrill of the Irish Cup and we look forward to the game tomorrow.”
Baxter revealed earlier this week that his priority when he arrived at Taylor’s Avenue was to stem the number of goals conceded to bolster the team’s chances of survival.
Three clean sheets in his last three games shows he has made good progress on this front, with his back line marshalled superbly by Luke McCullough and Joe Crowe.
However, scoring goals has been the problem lately as the 0-0 draw with Crusaders last Monday night was Carrick’s third blank in a row.
Newry have not won any of their last three games either but have found the back of the net, through Ryan McNickle against Ballinamallard United and Lorcan Forde in their 1-1 draw at The Showgrounds on Monday night.
Darren Mullen will have to be wary of the set piece threat Carrick pose as Baxter likes to see the ball in the danger area, but knows the tables can easily be turned.
“Paul Heatley had one against Crusaders on Monday night, he actually mis-hit it but it still only missed the goals by a foot.
“If he had caught that he would have scored and those are the sort of moments you get from putting the ball into the box.
“At the same time, you’ve got to be on your toes to defend that.
“Even if you get a header out of there, then it’s sitting on the edge of the box for somebody to smash one.”
Meanwhile, Newry City, who currently sit second from bottom of the Playr-Fit Championship, have strengthened their squad ahead of Saturday’s tie. Darren Mullen, who returned as manager following the departure of Barry Gray in October, has taken goalkeeper Lorcan Donnelly on loan from Glentoran while Ballyholland native Jamie Doran has also arrived on loan from Glenavon.
Brian Healy has been recalled from his loan spell at Ballyclare, where he has scored 11 league goals so far this season.