BLUES SHOW TITLE TEETH
Linfield celebrate Albert Watson's opener
LINFIELD showed their title teeth on Saturday as they chewed up the weak resistance of Crusaders at Windsor Park.
A 5-0 hammering of the Crues was a hefty response from the Blues following their midweek defeat to Coleraine.
Goals from Albert Watson, Philip Lowry, Peter Thompson, Daryl Fordyce and Billy Joe Burns saw the champions retain their four-point lead at the top of the Carling Premiership.
David Jeffrey had criticised his side’s lack of cutting edge against Coleraine four days previous, but he had little complaints as they destroyed lacklustre Crusaders – who had Gareth McKeown sent off in the second half.
“I was really pleased. Coming off the back of a frustrating defeat on Tuesday it was nice to come back with a win,” Jeffrey said.
“On Tuesday our quality could have been better.
“I said today would be a tough day as Crusaders had won the cup and won on Tuesday night.
“We said to the players – get shots on target and make the keeper work. Today we did that.
“To get five goals was drip drawer.”
Watson broke the deadlock on the half-four mark, thundering Michael Carvill’s corner past a stranded Sean O’Neill.
Lowry doubled the lead nine minutes later with a well taken strike from inside the box.
It was game, set and match in the 56th minute when Thompson scored from the penalty spot.
It followed McKeown’s crude challenge on Carvill that resulted in a straight red card from referee Raymond Crangle.
The scoring was completed with substitute Fordyce hammering home Neil Dougan’s cross and Billy Joe Burns’ speculative effort deflecting off Colin Coates and nestling in the bottom corner.
Linfield are now preparing for a potentially season-defining month of February.
They play Carrick Rangers in the Irish Cup this Saturday before a Premiership double-header with chief title rivals Portadown and Cliftonville.
“This is now the beginning of a month when you mettle and desire will be tested to the limit,” Jeffrey said.
“You can have ability, but if you don’t apply it then it counts for nothing.
“You can feel the desire in the players, because they were disappointed about Tuesday’s defeat to Coleraine.
“I said to them, ‘don’t look back, look forward’. You can’t look back. They were hungry today against an impressive Crusaders side.
“We live in a crazy world, where after one defeat it is a crisis. It is nonsensical.
“People look and look, and players know they need to respond immediately. They can’t have a little bad run anymore. They need to respond straight away.
“So today re energise confidence levels after the Coleraine defeat.
“I am surprised by Portadown and Cliftonville‘s challenge? I have never expected anything else than for them to keep winning.
“Crusaders went on a mammoth run last season when they won double-figure games in the New Year. I said to my players that I didn’t want a repeat of that this year.
“It was important we got three points today to push Crusaders further behind. We have done that, but it didn’t surprise me that Cliftonville and Portadown won today.
“I have said all along that it will be nip and tuck the whole season. Nothing has happened to change my mind on things.
“We just have to concentrate on ourselves and make sure we keep picking up the points because it will be tight the whole way.”
Crusaders manager Stephen Baxter admitted his players would have to take Saturday’s defeat “on the chin”.
He added: “The sending off dictated a lot of today. We started quite brightly, but we conceded poor goals.
“We lost two goals and the sending off changes the game for you, so we lick our wounds and dust ourselves down and go out all guns blazing in the Irish Cup next week.
“We know where our priorities are as a team.
“Today was disappointing. It is always disappointing whether you win with 10 or 11 men. But the league is now not a major priority for us – we want to finish in the top six.
“The Irish Cup is a priority, so we have a lot still riding on this season.”
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
