THE HEAT’S STILL ON US

Winger hails historic win over Linfield but insists all that matters now is next game & chasing down Coleraine’s lead

PAUL HEATLEY insists Crusaders won’t get carried away by the historical significance of Monday night’s five goal demolition of Linfield at Windsor Park.

The Seaviewmen were too hot to handle in the Sky Sports showdown as they inflicted a first domestic home defeat on the champions in nine months.

It was also Linfield’s heaviest home league defeat in 23 years and only the fourth time since World War II the South Belfast club had shipped five in a league game at Windsor.

There was a lot to savour for Stephen Baxter’s men, but Heatley – who scored a volleyed opener against the Blues – said: “It’s just one game, one win and we can’t dwell on it.

“I don’t think we’re entitled to get carried away. We play Ballinamallard United at Seaview on Friday night and that game is just as important now.

“It was a really overdue performance from us against Linfield and we really stepped up after weathering a storm (at the start of the second half), but we have to refocus and move on.”

While Crusaders have produced a number of standout displays this season – including a fluid 3-0 win over Glentoran on Sky three weeks ago – consistency has been an issue.

The Shore Road men boast five wins on the road in the Danske Bank Premiership, but have dropped 10 points in six home games so far.

Heatley said: “I don’t know why that is because we don’t give a monkeys where we’re playing. It’s maybe one for the neutrals to ponder.

“Recent stats say we haven’t got the results we wanted at Seaview, but over the past four or five years we have been unstoppable at home.

“Everyone goes through a rough patch at some stage and it tends to be a trait for us. We have a rough patch and then go on a nine or 10 game winning streak. Touch wood that happens for us.

“We always feel there’s more to come from us and we also know we’ll never be perfect, but we have to keep working hard and picking up results.”

Heatley, who helped fire the Crues to league title success in 2015 and 2016, has made a habit of scoring eye catching goals in front of a live Sky Sports audience.

The pacy wideman bagged two peaches in a 3-1 win over Ballinamallard last season and swivelled to volley past Roy Carroll to make it 1-0 to the visitors on Monday night.

He said: “I don’t even think about the cameras and I’d say most of the players would say the same thing – although it was nice to put on a decent performance for Sky.”