IRISH LEAGUE: Boss David Healy not happy as Linfield see off Cliftonville

Linfield turned on the style at Windsor Park on Saturday as they saw off Cliftonville 4-0 at Windsor Park.

Blues manager David Healy made one change from Tuesday night’s 4-0 win at the Oval with Aaron Burns replacing the injured Matthew Clarke and Ross Gaynor reverting to left back.

And Healy said he had to speak to his players at hal-time against a determined Reds outfit.

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“II is always pleasing to get three points at home, but the players will tell you they got a talking to at half-time.

“They had dropped below the standards we had been setting and they were below what we expect.

“And the players were told at half-time that they had to setep it up or we would lose the game.

“There was a wind in the first half but that is no excuse for the players.

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“We were fortunate to go in 1-0 up, but we regrouped in the second half and won the game.”

Linfield broke the deadlock on 37 minutes when Ross Gaynor’s cross proved too hot to handle for Cliftonville goalkeeper Conor Devlin who dropped the ball into the path of Aaron Burns who fired home.

Five minutes into the second half Linfield doubled their advantage.

Paul Smyth burst into the box and set the ball up for Kirk Millar to cross to Burns who scored his second of the afternoon.

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Linfield then got their third on 64 minutes. Millar was the provider again as he picked out Paul Smyth who fired low into the corner past Devlin.

The Blues went close when Millar swung in an excellent corner which dropped for Waterworth but his strike was cleared off the line by Jaimie McGovern.

Smyth was then impeded in the area and referee Ian McNabb showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Ross Gaynor stepped up to take the penalty and as coolly as ever sent Devlin the wrong way to make it 4-0.