Stephen Baxter confident Crusaders will find their stride again

Stephen Baxter was philosophical about Crusaders' slip-up

Jordan Forsythe takes the acclaim after putting Crusaders in front

Newry defender Ryan McGivern keeps a close check on Adam Lecky

Paul Heatley evades an attempted clearance from Newry's Darren King

Joy for Newry players and supporters alike following John McGovern's late leveller

Crusaders manager Stephen Baxter refused to point the finger at individual players following his team’s lacklustre draw against Newry City at Seaview

The Crues took a 1-0 lead after 13 minutes when Jordan Forsythe drilled low past Newry keeper Steven Maguire from just outside the box, but the hosts could not build on it.

City were allowed to feel their way back into the game and there was a sting in the tail for Baxter when the visitors equalised in the 89th minute.

Jordan Forsythe takes the acclaim after putting Crusaders in front

Crues defender Josh Robinson missed the bounce of a ball 25 yards from goal, John McGovern pounced to tee up Adam Carroll and, when his shot was repelled by Jonny Tuffey, McGovern was on hand to convert the rebound.

Baxter said the dropped points were down to a collectively flat performance and impressive industry from Newry rather than an individual error.

“We didn’t do enough, simple fact for me”, reflected the Crues boss. “We didn’t do enough.

“I thought Newry had a nice shape about them, they worked incredibly hard for one another and they had some lively young forwards who I think gave us something to think about.

“Josh hasn’t dealt with the ball and it will haunt him until the next football match, and that’s the nature of the game.

“A big mistake, you feel like you’re carrying weight for everybody. But I’m not saying Josh was the fault of the performance,