CARRICK RANGERS 0 LINFIELD 2 MARK MY WORDS

Blues boss is plotting path to the title

LINFIELD boss David Healy has challenged the league leaders to continue laying down markers with the finishing line in sight in the Premiership.

The criminally under-rated Kirk Millar bagged a brace as the Blues beat Carrick Rangers 2-0 on Saturday to record a fifth straight win in the league for the first time this season.

And Healy (inset) is eager to take that momentum into the final straight, with Larne – who beat the Blues 3-1 at Inver Park seven weeks ago – next up at Windsor Park this weekend.

“We have to make sure we build on the positive performances we’ve had over the last four or five games,” he said.

“We also need to lay down a marker against a good Larne side.

“We didn’t match anything they offered the last time we played them at Inver Park and we were off it. We were poor that night, so it’s a chance to put that right.”

Millar, up to 11 goals for the season, bundled the ball home in fortuitous fashion for the opener on 18 minutes after a raiding run from Chris Casement. And the winger doubled the visitors’ lead six minutes into the second half when he curled an exquisite free-kick into the top corner.

“Kirk’s free-kick was really pleasing on the eye and it gave us the belief we could go on and win the game,” said Healy. “He actually scored a similar one against Cliftonville in the Shield.

“You’re thinking ‘is he going to cross it?’, or ‘does it have enough pace and power?’, but it went right into the top corner and it was a big goal at a crucial time.

“It was a hard earned win and Carrick made it difficult for us. It wasn’t the prettiest game in the conditions, but the boys stood up to it and I always thought we were in control.”

Meanwhile, Linfield have said they will launch an internal investigation into “unproven allegations” made by Carrick of “vile and sectarian abuse” during Saturday’s game. Rangers boss Niall Currie claimed keeper Harry Doherty, who was reportedly red carded after the final whistle, had to endure “a hell of a lot of abuse”.

Linfield noted their “surprise and disappointment” at Carrick’s statement and said their investigation would include “the unacceptable behaviour of certain Carrick players”.

The Belfast club added they were “unaware of the evidence of any sectarian abuse being directed by any of our supporters”.

Kirk Millar’s brace at the weekend was decisive for the Blues