FOOTBALL: Mulgrew hails Linfield 'character'
JAMIE Mulgrew believes Linfield are demonstrating the kind of character that could see them march to Carling Premiership glory this season.
The Blues have surged to the top of the standings following an ominous return to form.
Their lead is slender - they are one point ahead of Cliftonville - but David Jeffrey's side have two games in hand of their main rivals.
Tonight Dungannon Swifts arrive at Windsor Park, and for midfielder Mulgrew it is imperative Linfield continue in their rich vein of form.
"We have to keep pushing in the league, that is vital at this stage of the season. We need as many points as we can," he said.
"We are also only one game away from another Irish Cup final. That competition is very prestigious along with becoming league champions. They are two targets which we are going for.
"Now we turn our attention to Tuesday night and Dungannon Swifts. That is our next assignment and we need three points to keep this run going. We want to be league champions again so we need to win."
Linfield have dragged themselves out of the mire they found themselves submerged in prior to Christmas, when a run of one win from seven competitive fixtures had the boo-boys circling boss Jeffrey.
That dire sequence included just one draw from four Premiership outings - a record that had the club's title aspirations also floundering.
But one defeat from their last seven league fixtures has Windsor Park rocking again, with hopes of a 49th Gibson Cup success now firmly on the cards.
"We have had a lot of big games recently – Crusaders, Portadown, St Pat's and Glentoran on Saturday – and we are becoming stronger," Mulgrew - who scored in Saturday's Irish Cup victory over Glentoran - added.
"Looking back to where we were before Christmas, which is only three months ago, proves what a big turnaround we have had. It shows you the competition in the league, and proves the character we are slowly but surely showing.
"There is immense pressure on the players who pull on the Linfield jersey. If you want to stay here you have to deal with it, and I personally relish it.
"I relish the pressure put on us, and now we appear to be playing with a smile on our faces again. We have come a long way recently and we are beginning to show our mettle.
"We haven't won anything yet and there is a long way to go, but I am sure a lot of teams would like to be in our position."
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
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