David Healy clear Linfield 'need to improve our standards' ahead of crunch clash with Premiership leaders
Linfield manager David Healy insists his side “need to improve our standards” if they want to compete for silverware honours this season ahead of a showdown with Premiership leaders Larne, who he feels have “gone under the radar”.
The Blues are reigning league champions having finished 22 points clear at the summit last season, but they’re facing stern competition from the likes of Friday’s opponents and Coleraine in the race for Gibson Cup glory this term.
Linfield have put together a seven-game unbeaten league run since losing to Portadown in October and also sealed midweek BetMcLean Cup progression past third-tier Newry City – producing a performance which left Healy underwhelmed.
“If we are going to be successful this year, we need to improve our standards,” he told the club’s media channel. “Everybody at Linfield, myself included, you want a better performance and more often than not, if you get the correct performance, you get the positive result you're looking for.
"We're a little bit short at the minute. Senior players have spoken in the changing room and we're unbeaten since Portadown, a couple of draws thrown in, we've played Cliftonville away, Coleraine twice and other games in between that you still have to go and win.
"The positive thing is we have more gears and an extra incentive in December with so many big games.
"We're probably light on a few numbers, which we get on with quickly. We bring some younger players in and you're hoping the players who were on the periphery, in and around getting minutes, when they get the opportunity they'll do a little bit better that what they showed (against Newry).”
Friday’s trip to Inver Park marks Linfield’s first meeting of the season against Larne, who have surged to the summit in fine fashion.
Gary Haveron’s side are unbeaten in their last seven league matches and boast the Premiership’s best defensive record while only Coleraine have scored more top-flight goals.
Despite Larne winning two of the last three Gibson Cups, much of the pre-season title prediction chat focused around Linfield and Coleraine, but Healy is relishing a crunch clash.
"It's a big game,” he added. “Inver under the lights is always a challenge.
"Larne have gone under the radar for most people this year. There was talk about Linfield, Coleraine, Glentoran in the mix, and Larne have slid under the radar a bit. It's always a challenge and we will need to be better...we look forward to the challenge."