Crusaders FC were handed a humbling 5-0 defeat by Coleraine at Seaview on Saturday 24 October.
Coleraine took the lead after 19 minutes through Wylie. Devine then scored twice before half-time, in the 30th and 41st minutes, to put the visitors in complete control. The second half brought more misery as an own goal from a Crusaders player, credited to Coleraine's Blaney, made it four. Brooks completed the rout with a late strike four minutes from time.
The match was effectively over as a contest after just 11 minutes when Crusaders defender Rough was shown a straight red card. The home side's disciplinary problems continued with yellow cards for Dunlop and Williamson later in the game.
Form and context
This result is the latest in a string of heavy defeats that has seen Crusaders concede 23 goals in 12 league games this season while scoring only 16. They currently sit seventh in the Premiership table with 15 points, a full 17 points behind leaders Linfield. Their recent form reads as five straight losses, including a 5-2 defeat at Warrenpoint Town on Wednesday 21 October, a 2-1 loss at Ballymena United on Saturday 17 October, a 3-0 home defeat to Larne on Saturday 10 October, and a 4-0 loss at Carrick Rangers on Saturday 3 October. Their last victory was a 2-1 win over Bangor on 26 September.
The team must now regroup quickly ahead of a key fixture away to Limavady United on Saturday 31 October. Limavady, who are tenth, beat Crusaders 2-1 when the sides last met on 12 September. A positive result is essential to halt this damaging losing streak and begin climbing the table.
