Title is not in the bag yet, warns Blues boss Healy
Blues boss taking nothing for granted despite 12-point advantage at summit
DAVID Healy has insisted it would be ‘arrogance of the highest order’ if anyone at Linfield thought the title race was over, despite his team moving 12 points clear at the top of the table.
In a compelling encounter at Windsor Park on Wednesday night, the Blues defeated nearest challengers Coleraine 2-1 thanks to two magical Jordan Stewart goals. That moved them a giant step closer to a fourth league crown in five seasons.
Linfield have eight games remaining and, while the Bannsiders have a match in hand, a dozen points is a huge gap to make up at this stage of the campaign. Third-placed Glentoran have played two fixtures fewer than their Big Two rivals but are 14 points adrift of the champions.
What also plays into Linfield’s hands is that Coleraine and Glentoran still have to face each other three times between now and the end of the season as well.
Blues boss Healy admits that his side are in a strong position but states there is much work still to be done.
“It would be arrogance of the highest order if we thought that we had done the job,” said Northern Ireland’s record goalscorer.
“Do we think it is over? Absolutely not. It would stink of arrogance from me and anyone at the club to think that. Have we put ourselves in a better position after this result? Absolutely, because I have no doubt Coleraine will come strong again.
“We have Larne, Ballymena and Glenavon to play before the split. Larne are pushing for not only the league title but European spots, and Glenavon and Ballymena are pushing to get into the top six, so all the teams have something to play for.
“If we had three games left and we were nine points clear with a healthy goal difference then you could think we are nearly there, but there are a number of games coming up and we will focus only on them.”
Stewart’s two first-half goals were wonderful examples of his natural talent and sensational skill in tight areas to conjure up space and provide fantastic finishes.
They proved crucial as after the second-half red card for Linfield’s Niall Quinn, the visitors pushed forward and scored late on through substitute Curtis Allen prior to an injury-time dismissal for Aaron Canning.
Healy feels that when former Glentoran player Stewart is on song, there is no one better in the Irish League.
“Jordan has more ability than the majority and probably all the players in the league when he is on it. His tight control, touch and awareness for the goals were fantastic,” said the Linfield manager.
“He showed composure, though he also missed an absolute sitter. Navid (Nasseri) and Shayne (Lavery) had fantastic chances as well, and you are wary that may come back to haunt you, but thankfully it didn’t.
“Unfortunately for Jordan against Coleraine we probably took away the opportunity of him going and getting a hat-trick with going down to 10 men and we had to put him out on the lefthand side.
“Credit to him, he worked his socks off. When you look at Jordan’s stats after games he has always covered 10, 11, 12k, so he puts a great shift in for us along with those bits of magic that he has.”
Linfield go to Larne tomorrow without the suspended Quinn who, alongside the excellent Cameron Palmer, has delivered in central midfield with captain Jamie Mulgrew, Kyle Mcclean and Stephen Fallon all injured.
Mcclean is out long-term and Mulgrew won’t be back for another fortnight, though Fallon came off the bench in midweek, which will be a boost to the Blues, who will have Joel Cooper returning from a three-match ban with Healy’s men on a run of eight league wins from their last nine. Ω SHAY Mccartan has signed a new two year contract with Ballymena United.
The twice-capped Northern Ireland striker has shone for the Sky Blues since joining the Braidmen in September.
Mccartan’s deal represents a fantastic piece of transfer business by manager David Jeffrey and the club.