Cliftonville boss Paddy McLaughlin hailed the character of his team, who battle back to earn an epic 3-3 draw with North Belfast rivals Crusaders at Seaview to take the Danske Bank Premiership title race to final day of the season.
Having taken a first half lead, courtesy of a goal from Crues old boy Colin Coates, Stephen Baxter’s boys hit back with strikes from Billy Joe Burns, Ben Kennedy and Jordan Forsythe.
The Reds title hopes – they remain one point behind Linfield – appeared doomed until Ryan Curran’s four-minute double whammy.
Read more: Irish Premiership title race going to the wire after Linfield and Cliftonville draws
They finish their League campaign away to Glentoran next weekend, while Linfield entertain Coleraine.
“The boys looked dead and buried when trailing 3-1, but they just don’t know when they are beaten,” gushed McLaughlin. “We live to fight another day and we’ve taken it (the title race) to the very last day of the season, which no one would have predicted.
“Once again, the lads showed the hunger, determination and the character that they have displayed all season.
“Yes, Crusaders dominated parts of the game and that was disappointing, but our boys must be given an enormous amount of credit for battling their way back into it.”
McLaughlin agreed next week’s final game of the season will be another tension-filled occasion.
“It will be tough, but you never know what can happen,” he added. “It’s great for the League to have two teams going toe-to-toe right until the end of the season.”
Crusaders manager Stephen Baxter admitted a half-time rollicking did the trick.
“We were a hair off it in the first half and the players got a rocket during the break,” he said. “They did exactly what I wanted them to do and were unlucky not to win it.”
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