Ferguson broadside at players’ attitudes after heavy defeat at Seaview

The Shore Road side were without a handful of first team regulars but still had for too much for the Sky Blues, who produced a woeful performance, which included conceding three goals in a crazy four minute spell just before half-time.

“We knew they had a few players out through suspension, injury, one thing and another and our players must have thought it was going to be easy,” said Ferguson.

“Crusaders are where they are because they have strength in depth – they’ve got a squad that can compete for all the trophies and the league campaign.

“I think our players need to go and have a look at themselves, thinking they were going to be up against lesser players.

“I was really disappointed in the way we went about it.

Our attitude seemed to be bad, again waiting for somebody else to make something happen and it didn’t.

“Crusaders’ most inexperienced player was their keeper and I told the boys to test him as early as possible – I think we have one shot on target the whole match, from which we scored our goal.

“We didn’t create anywhere near enough and that disappointed me as well.

“It’s something we have to work on and it proves once again how inconsistent we can be.

“Gary McCutcheon is a good player and you can’t give him space on the ball. He drifts into holes and wee pockets and then runs behind. The first goal has been laid in to him on the edge of the box and he has put it in the top corner which he’s good at.

“Second goal he got the ball played through, the keeper saved it and Heatley’s got the rebound.

“Third goal the keeper has miskicked it but fair play to Chris Morrow, he has showed great technique and quality to control his first-time shot – there’s nothing we could do about that one.

“In the second half we conceded two goals when Colin Coates won two headers which is disappointing as well – boys have to stand up and be counted and we weren’t strong enough,” added Ferguson.