Irish Premiership: 'My team have been robbed,' claims Stephen Baxter after Larne loss

Crusaders boss Stephen Baxter has criticised the performance of referee Steven Gregg in his side's 2-0 defeat against Larne on Friday night.

Baxter believed that the north Belfast side should have had two penalties before Joe Thomson opened the scoring for Larne just before half-time.

"We had two penalty shouts which are stonewall penalties for me, how the referee doesn't see those and give those is beyond me," he lamented.

"My team have been robbed."

Crusaders' first penalty appeal came when Adam Lecky went down under a challenge from Cian Bolger in the box.

Just four minutes later, they were appealing for another spot-kick when Ross Clarke appeared to be bundled over by Levi Ives.

Leroy Millar's second-half goal would then seal the victory for Larne, condemning Crusaders to a third straight defeat.

"The game was too big for him [the referee], the amount of stupid yellow cards issued and the incompetence around decision making was just frightening for me," continued Baxter.

"You have to get those big things right at this level of the game. The referee and his team need to go and reflect on that.

"They need to watch the video and see their mistakes, own up to their mistakes and stop hiding behind them."

Baxter praised his own side's display despite the defeat which leaves them in fourth place, 10 points behind Cliftonville in third.

"I thought we were magnificent out there, the two teams were locked in battle, it was a brilliant game of football spoiled by the referee.

"We were really on top in that game in many aspects. Credit to Larne, the break that they scored their quality second goal from was their moment of magic," he admitted.

"Aside from that, there wasn't much in the game. The free-kick that they scored the (opening) goal from was the softest free-kick you've seen."

'It was all about the result'

Larne boss Tiernan Lynch was pleased with the grit shown by his team to win despite performing below their best.

The result moves the champions to within a point of leaders Linfield, who face Loughgall on Saturday.

"I'm delighted, it was all about the result coming here to Seaview," he said.

"It wasn't our best performance, but it was three points and a clean sheet. You don't want many of them but there are times you have to roll your sleeves up and I think we did that well.

"I was proud of the boys for showing that side so credit to them."