David Healy feels Linfield 'given ourselves a chance still' in Premiership title race - but highlights injury time frustration
Linfield manager David Healy feels his side have “given ourselves a chance still” in the race to defend their Premiership title after Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at leaders Larne.
The Blues roared back into the Gibson Cup picture by winning six consecutive league matches and extended an unbeaten run to 10 after Adam Frizzell cancelled out Leroy Millar’s early strike at Inver Park.
It promises to be a thrilling finale to the Premiership campaign with Larne three points clear of Coleraine at the summit while Linfield are a further two back and Glentoran, who have two matches in hand, three behind their ‘Big Two’ rivals.
Linfield are looking to maintain pressure on their competition ahead of the split with Sunday’s clash at Cliftonville followed by games against Portadown and Carrick Rangers.
Larne were reduced to 10 men in the closing stages after Millar was given his marching orders and Healy was left frustrated with the amount of time added on as his side chased a winner.
"It wasn't a brilliant game,” he told the club’s media channel. “First half, without being the better team I thought we had the better chances.
"We were disappointed at half-time we hadn't scored. We came out, we changed a bit at half-time and got a bit of joy.
"We got the goal, it's a brilliant ball in and you're delighted to see it going in.
"We had one or two moments where you're hoping for a bit better, better quality or a better decision.
"They went down to 10 men, rightly so, and then they get behind the ball. I think four minutes were added on...every single game we're leading at Windsor I see six or seven minutes coming on the board.
"It took Leroy 90+ seconds to get off the pitch, somebody was down injured for nearly two minutes, the substitutions which took a bit longer than normal because they're down to 10 men. I'm frustrated a little bit with only four minutes.
"But on the positive side, the reaction we got from the players coming off the back of Dungannon away, Dungannon at home, Glenavon away, Glentoran at home.
"We've given ourselves a chance still, it's tight in and around and there's opportunities for one or two other teams.
"It's probably glass half empty in terms of coming down to Larne, there were chances in the first half we should have capitalised on.
"I'm a bit frustrated that we haven't gone and won the game."