‘Big Two results won’t decide our fate’

The last two league games have been anything but pretty for Small’s men who shipped in 10 goals in that time. And while Wednesday night’s 6-1 League Cup win over Sport and Leisure Swifts may have provided some relief from the rigours of top-flight football, the manager insists the matches against the Big Two won’t define his team’s season.

“It’s another serious examination for us,” Small told the Carrick Times. “People have talked about motivation for this fixture, but what motivation does a team need when they are going to the international stadium to play the top team in the country, the league leaders.

“We will have to produce a good performance if we want to get a result and I’m confident the boys will be keen to banish the memories of last weekend.

“It would be great to surprise everyone and there will be even more pressure on Linfield than there will be on Carrick Rangers. And, whatever lies in wait for us this season, the results against Glentoran and Linfield aren’t the ones that will determine our fate.”

Read the full story in this week’s Carrick Times