David Healy clear 'the challenge has never been greater' as Linfield look to bounce back
Linfield manager David Healy is clear “the challenge has never been greater” for his side as they look to bounce back from consecutive Premiership defeats – but knows “nobody is going to feel sorry for Linfield”.
Having been beaten 2-1 by basement club Glenavon, Healy’s men were dealt a further blow on Boxing Day as they lost out 1-0 to bitter ‘Big Two’ rivals Glentoran – a result which ended their 41-year unbeaten record at Windsor Park on December 26.
It leaves the reigning Premiership champions sitting in fourth, 13 points adrift of leaders Larne and seven behind second-placed Coleraine, who have played three more matches at this stage.
Linfield are preparing for a trip to the Bannsiders on Tuesday evening and Healy has called for his players to produce the goods.
"It’s important, and I always state, the importance of your next game when you lose,” Healy told the club’s media channel. “We’re in a situation at the moment where it’s tough.
"The challenge has never been greater, certainly I’m finding it more challenging in terms of what we have available, we’re probably one or two light, but nobody wants to hear excuses.
"Nobody is going to feel sorry for Linfield in terms of what we have available.
"We need big boys turning up against Coleraine on Tuesday because it’s going to need a big boy performance if we’re going to get the desired result and outcome we want.”
Friday’s defeat to Glentoran marked the first time Linfield had been beaten at home in the league this season and was also the first time they had failed to score at Windsor Park.
"I thought we were second best for large periods,” added Healy. “We tried numerous different things, made substitutions, changed the shape a bit.
"I talked after the Glenavon game about responsibility, the responsibility I have as manager, but individually and collectively when the players are on the pitch, there has to be more of an edge and hunger.
"We spoke in the dressing room...there needs to be more of an edge to the game individually. They were in our faces and we couldn’t play around them.
"I wanted more. I’ve spoken about my responsibility and manager and I’ve been the first to front up on all occasions. I know there was disappointment from the large crowd and you sensed the performance undercut us.
"We’re all accountable and we need to be doing more.”