Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
YOU LIVE AND LARNE
Lynch: We had a dip in form but I knew these players would work it out
A FIRST home win of 2021, a picture book Marty Donnelly free-kick and a first clean sheet in almost three months.
There was much for Tiernan Lynch to be pleased about as Larne closed the gap on Linfield with a commanding 3-0 win over Dungannon Swifts on Saturday night.
Add in a dazzling dipper from Mark Randall and there was plenty to smile about at a chilly Inver Park.
“I thought we were excellent and got what we deserved,” said Lynch, who saw his side capitalise on the fact Linfield’s trip to Ballymena United fell foul to a frozen pitch.
Saturday’s win saw Larne edge to within two points of David Healy’s leaders at the top of the Premiership, albeit with one more game played.
“We were very dominant from start to finish and did the right things in the right areas of the pitch,” said Lynch (inset).
“It was also very pleasing to keep a clean sheet.”
Prior to the weekend, you had to rewind 77 days to find Larne’s last clean sheet in the league – a 2-0 win at Coleraine on November 29.
“It’s the first time we’ve kept one in a while,” said Lynch.
“We know it’s something we need to get back to and we’re working really hard on that aspect of our game.
“Great credit to the boys.
“We defended very well without the ball and didn’t give up on it right to the end of the game.”
Having also gone five home games without a win since the turn of the year, Larne laid down an early marker with
Randall’s second goal of the season.
The former Arsenal midfielder, whose influence is peaking at the perfect time, chested down a ninth minute throw-in to arrow an unstoppable shot over Roy Carroll. It was 2-0 in the 53rd minute when a Randall free-kick soared across the area and found the head of unfortunate Swifts defender Dougie Wilson, who diverted the ball into his own net.
Wilson and team-mates claimed a push by Larne striker Johnny Mcmurray, but referee Ian Mcnabb was unmoved and awarded the goal.
Donnelly put the game to bed when he scored his 50th goal in only 110 appearances for the club with an exquisite free-kick in off the underside of the bar from 20 yards out.
Lynch, whose side had won just one of their seven previous outings, added: “They had a little bit of dip in form, but they are very good players.
“We always knew what they were capable of and if they kept playing good football, they’d get their rewards.”
NEIL LENNON reckons he’s got the old Odsonne Edouard back.
The French striker struck twice at Mcdiarmid Park to give his team a fourth straight success.
Edouard’s double moved him on to 20 goals for the campaign but it’s not the numbers that are pleasing the manager – it’s the touch, the energy, the hunger and application.
Edouard isn’t just hitting the net again with regularity. He’s beginning to display some of the old tricks, swagger and feints that made him feared by defences across Scotland for the past two seasons and saw the club put a £30million price-tag on his head.
Asked if Edouard was getting back to his best,
Lennon said: “He is, not just his goals but his play in general, particularly in the second half, was superb. He’s definitely looking more and more like the player he was during last season. I don’t know what’s the difference. He just seems a lot more settled. I think there were a lot of things on his mind in the first half of this season.
“He’s really found his form now and we’re delighted because he makes us better. That’s the sort of form he was showing this time last season. It augurs well for between now and the end of the season. He’s in great goalscoring form but I was pleased with his all-round performance. His physicality was back, his running was better and certainly his technique on the ball was very good.”
It wasn’t just Edouard who shone at the top end of the pitch for the champions.
Both the Frenchman’s goals were crafted by excellent skill and thought from team-mate Ryan Christie, who produced a brilliant run and cross for the first (left) and a delicious dummy for the second.
And Lennon also gave out praise to much-maligned defender Shane Duffy.
The Irish international returned to the starting line-up due to an injury to Stephen Welsh.
He looked like he could have done better when Shaun Rooney headed the home team into the lead but the manager preferred to pick out the positives of the all-round display.
Lennon added: “I thought Duffy was pretty steady. There were no frills and that’s what we want from him, a good, steady performance.
“Kris Ajer alongside him dovetailed quite well. It’s been difficult with so many out.”