David Healy clear what Linfield require 'if you want to be successful' as he calls for ruthless edge
Linfield manager David Healy is clear “if you want to be successful, you need killers in your team” as he called for his side to show a more ruthless edge in front of goal after progressing to yet another BetMcLean Cup final by beating Ballymena United 1-0 on Wednesday night.
For the second time in a matter of days, the Blues created a number of opportunities but were left to settle for only one goal – Isaac Baird’s early header proving the difference in a last-four showdown at Windsor Park.
Healy’s men have netted just once – or less – in each of their last five matches across all competitions, but in that time have sealed their spot in the Irish Cup sixth round and BetMcLean Cup showpiece decider.
They maintain the Premiership’s second-best defensive record, conceding only 16 times in 24 matches – leaders Larne (11) are the sole side to have leaked fewer at this stage – but Healy has called for improvements at the other end.
“If you want to be successful, you need killers in your team,” Healy told the club’s media channel. “You need people who in the important moment or important stages when it is 1-0, you hope to grasp it quickly and take the next opportunity.
"We need a little bit more of that. I still believe there’s enough attacking prowess in the squad, but we just need to make sure we’re taking a bit more care with our decision-making in the final-third.”
Linfield have won Northern Ireland’s League Cup more times (12) than any other club and were successful in consecutive seasons across the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns, beating Coleraine and Portadown respectively.
One of the biggest days on the local football calendar, the BetMcLean Cup final will once again be held on a Sunday this season, March 15, with the Blues set to meet either ‘Big Two’ rivals Glentoran or Coleraine.
Healy was content with his side’s performance on Wednesday as they navigated past Ballymena and is excited for another huge occasion.
"I thought for large parts we were okay, and then we made it a bit more difficult than what the game should have been,” he added. “We let them off the hook.
"Certainly in the first half, I thought some of our play was pretty good, and what I didn’t want to be doing was, like Saturday, coming in frustrated that you’re winning 1-0 and only 1-0.
"We have to be more ruthless in the final third, we need to pick better passes and be more clinical. All in all, I’m pleased – clean sheet and through to the cup final, we look forward to it.
"I thought for periods we were in control.
"Later on in the game, when you’re chasing the game you become more direct and the back-four who had been marking the same man for most of the game find a centre-back, Daithi McCallion, Clarkey (Matthew Clarke) was playing as a centre-forward, all of a sudden it becomes a bit more jittery.
"There was one or two important blocks towards the end but the frustrating thing is we didn’t do enough previously to go and get the second goal.”