Linfield manager David Jeffrey was seething with frustration after this tame 1-1 draw with bottom club Lisburn Distillery on Saturday.
“I told the players it was simply not good enough,” rapped big Davy.
“You dominate the game in terms of possession, have so much of the play but when the chances come you don’t take them.
“If I had been a player, especially after Tuesday night, I would have wanted to go out and put in a shift.
“It is very disappointing not least because I was targeting finishing in second place in the Premiership.
“Getting second place was a massive task before today but it is even harder now.
“We began the day level on points with Crusaders who had two games in hand. They have still got that and now we are two points behind.
“We have had a difficult, challenging and frustrating season but on occasions we should have done much better given the talent in that dressing room.
“In sixteen league games we’ve had 10 wins and six draws. That’s 12 points when we have often shot ourselves in the foot, failed to capitalise on our chances and then been hit by a sucker punch.
“That happened to us again today.”
Jeffrey’s dark mood was in stark contrast to that of Distillery manager Tim McCann.
“1-0 down at Windsor Park you have to be happy with a point and as I’ve told the players it’s now all about not losing and picking up points,” beamed McCann.
“I thought their goal was preventable but we didn’t feel sorry for ourselves as we might have done five or six weeks ago.
“Instead the boys stuck to their task and put their bodies on the line.
“We then went on to score a fine equaliser through Aaron Boyd who has been excellent since he came to the club.
“That’s four goals in seven for him and don’t forget he had a hat trick scrubbed when our game with Dundela was abandoned.
“In the end I am more than happy with the point which moves us closer to Donegal Celtic.
But I am sure we will be in the Premiership next season. That is a big statement but I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe it.
“To service all we have to do is maintain this level of performance. I am very happy with this point today.”
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