IRISH LEAGUE: Linfield's Jimmy Callacher insists title race '˜is going to the wire'

David Healy’s men kept their title flame flickering with a professional 2-0 win over Cliftonville on Saturday.

Callacher poked home the opener in the 37th minute, with Paul Smyth adding a second in the 67th minute to earn the crucial victory at Solitude.

It keeps Linfield five points behind Crusaders – albeit having played a game more – as this season’s championship prepares to enter its final furlong.

“I think we have proved that we have that big match mentality,” Callacher said after Saturday’s win.

“The title is in Crusaders’ hands. We have to rely on them slipping up, but we have to make sure we keep up our end of the bargain by winning our games.

“There are about seven or eight games left and still plenty to fight for, so we believe we can still win the title.

“We will take it one game at a time and see where it takes us.”

Saturday’s Premiership success came just two weeks after Linfield’s 3-0 Irish Cup win at the same north Belfast venue.

“To back up the Irish Cup win was important,” Callacher added.

“Anything can happen in cup games, but to back it up today was vital.

“Solitude is a tough place to come, and Cliftonville are a good side. So to win here today is brilliant.

“The belief is back. We are getting our identity back, and we are keeping clean sheets and scoring goals.

“If we keep it tight at the back, we have the firepower to score goals and win games.”

Linfield boss Healy hailed the character of his players following Saturday’s deserved win against Cliftonville.

“That’s two wins in two weeks at Solitude, so psychologically it is a boost,” Healy said.

“One of the things labelled at the players was whether they have the big game mentality.

“People asked whether Linfield were soft, or whether we had that edge, that belief that we could be the best.

“Hopefully the players have regained a bit of that faith. But we also know it just takes one or two games, especially at Linfield, for that to all change. The players are well aware of that.

“We didn’t win a game during November, but you learn so much from sticky spells like that. And since November I think we have lost two games in total. So the players have backed up my passion and fire.

“I don’t claim to be a Michael O’Neill, or a top manager or coach. But hopefully I give the players that passion and fire.”

Cliftonville assistant boss Mal Donaghy admitted the Reds were below par against Linfield, but insisted the club’s management team would continue working hard to revive fortunes.

“We are disappointed with the result. We spoke to the players at the end for 10 minutes, and a few things were said,” Donaghy said.

“We are naturally disappointed with the result.

“We had a game plan, and it didn’t work out the way we wanted it to. We wanted the players to be brave on the ball, and they did that at the start of the second half.

“Things looked more promising, and then Linfield scored the second goal. And that proved a bridge too far for us.

“There are no qualms about the defeat – the best team won today.

“We will continue working hard, but the players have to accept some responsibility too. We still have an awful lot to play for this season. We won the League Cup but we want more. We have Ballymena up next and we will prepare for that.”