Irish League fans have an interesting theory on what Stephen Baxter said to Paddy McLaughlin at the end of Friday night’s Irish Cup semi-final at Windsor Park.
The triumphant Crusaders manager shook McLaughlin’s hand following his side’s 2-1 win before giving what appeared to be a strident pep talk to the disconsolate Reds boss.
The prolonged interaction was captured on BBC’s live coverage of the last-four tie and some eager onlookers thought they were able to decipher Baxter’s words of consolation.
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BBC broadcaster and commentator Joel Taggart wrote on Twitter: “I’m convinced Stephen Baxter told Paddy McLaughlin after the final whistle to ‘go and win the league’.
One supporter Stuart Pierce replied: “No lip reader myself but thought I could see ‘go and win the title’. Interesting, shall we say. LOL.”
Cliftonville, who lifted the BetMcLean League Cup last month, are currently in a three-way tussle with Linfield and Glentoran to win the league title later this month.
The Reds are currently just four points behind leaders Linfield, who are chasing a fourth successive Gibson Cup, with a game in hand and a point above the Glens.
Cliftonville’s game in hand is at Portadown on Tuesday night before they face Linfield at Solitude in the first of five post-split games on April 9.
Asked what Baxter said to him on the final whistle on Friday night, McLaughlin said: “Stephen is a legend of the game and the league and I have the utmost respect for him.
“He just wished us all the best for the run-in for the last couple of weeks and I was also telling him good luck in the Irish Cup final.
“He was nothing but complimentary about our boys and he just told us to go and give it everything we have from now to the end of the season.
“You’ve got to give a lot of respect to Stephen for saying that. His team is just after getting to a cup final and his focus is on us making a push for the last five or six games of the run-in.
“Full respect and fair play to Stephen for saying that.”
Cliftonville led Friday night's semi-final thanks to Joe Gormley's 21st goal of the season.
But Crusaders levelled through Ross Clarke and won it in first-half stoppage time when captain Billy Joe Burns helped force home a Ben Kennedy corner at the back post.
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