YOURS TO BLUES

Healy: We’ve earned the right to go and win the title

DAVID HEALY is urging his Linfield players to prove their critics wrong by lifting the Gibson Cup at Solitude. The Blues, who were nine points adrift in February, lie two clear with just a game to play after Saturday’s commanding win at Coleraine. Crusaders, who tumbled off the summit with a 3-0 loss at Ballymena, host Glenavon in the final game of the campaign this weekend while Linfield travel to Cliftonville.

With a far superior goal difference, a point will suffice for the Windsor Park men, who are bidding to win their first league title in five years. Healy says it would be sweet for his players to pip the Crues – who had led the way for all but a week of the campaign - after having their “bottle questioned” in recent times. The former Northern Ireland striker (inset) said: “A lot of people wrote us off, but I love all that. At times I get annoyed and infuriated by it, but I also get high on it.

“We were written off and people questioned the mentality of the players. Some questioned me and the new management, but the players have shown immense character.

“They’ve gone toe to toe with a really good

Crusaders side and won games when the pressure was on. They have earned the right to go Solitude and try and win a league title.

“We haven’t been in this situation for a few years, but nothing is won yet.

“It’s a good time to have hit the front and we want to finish it off, but our feet are on the ground.”

Coleraine took the lead through a 51st minute James Mclauglin header.

But Linfield, who have won 16 of their last 17 games in all competitions, hit back almost instantly with a superb Aaron Burns curler and close range Paul Smyth finish. It was 3-1 three minutes later when Burns bagged his second of the day from the penalty spot before Andy Waterworth tapped home a fourth in the 74th. Linfield could afford a missed penalty from Smyth before Waterworth added a fifth when he headed home a Stephen Lowry cross.

HE WAS HIT AND SMYTH Paul Smyth celebrates putting Blues in the lead but he later missed a penalty ‘LAND OF MAKE BELIEVE Howard Beverland was gutted on Saturday but he says Crues can’t lose hope entirely