Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
It’s still all to play for
MATCH WINNER ROBINSON REFUSES TO GET CARRIED AWAY AFTER CRUES 2017 COLLAPSE
LINFIELD’S Josh Robinson has the perfect retort to those who believe this season’s title race is all but over: Look what happened to Crusaders in 2017.
The Blues are odds on favourite to lift the Gibson Cup after storming nine points clear of second-placed Ballymena United thanks to this 1-0 win at Windsor Park.
And while David Jeffrey’s Sky Blues boast a game in hand, it’s hard to see the Big Two giants releasing their grip on the top of the table at this late stage.
That view, however, is disputed by Robinson who was in England when he watched his former club Crusaders surrender a similar nine point lead two years ago.
Stephen Baxter’s men took just 16 points from their last nine games and lost out to Linfield by two points on the final day of the season.
“It’s exactly the same situation,” said Robinson, who rattled the woodwork with a thunderbolt shot before heading a 54th minute winner for the Blues from a Kyle Mcclean corner.
“The season after I left Crusaders, they were nine points clear with nine games to play, and looking from the outside in, you were left wondering how the hell did they lose that?
“We don’t want that to happen to us. It shows how pressure can affect teams when they’re at the top, so we have to stay focused on what we’re doing.
“Yes, we’re nine points clear and this was a massive win, but we can’t lose sight of the next game at Newry City on Tuesday night.”
Robinson, who joined Linfield after leaving York City in 2017, is eager to prove a point after enduring a forgettable debut year with the Blues last season.
David Healy’s men ended the campaign potless and finished a distant fourth in the league.
“Personally, I had a terrible season last year and I know that,” said Robinson. “It hurt me looking back at the criticism and abuse I got.
“But what has really driven us on this season is proving the doubters wrong. It makes you hungrier to show you’re a good side.”
On his third goal of the season, he added: “I need to be more a threat in the opposition box because I’m quite good in the air, so it was nice to see that one go in.”
Ballymena were left fuming when referee Tim Marshall waved away a big penalty shout after Adam Lecky’s last minute shot struck Jimmy Callacher’s hands.
United boss David Jeffrey said: “Something as blatant as that is hard to take.
“Is it because it’s Ballymena, a provincial town? Sure, it’s OK, pat them on the head and send them home. It was a stonewall penalty.”