David Healy feels 'potentially only two' teams in Premiership title race - and neither are Linfield
The Premiership title mind games have continued with Linfield manager David Healy saying “potentially only two” teams will be competing for the Gibson Cup this season – and neither are his reigning champions.
Linfield created a piece of history by claiming league glory before the split last term, ultimately finishing 22 points clear at the summit, and have now put together a nine-game unbeaten Premiership run following Saturday’s dominant 4-0 victory over Crusaders.
Healy’s men sit seven points behind top-two Coleraine and Larne, holding three games in hand over the former and have played one less than the Inver Reds.
The Blues haven’t been beaten by either of their main rivals this season, drawing twice against Coleraine and played out a stalemate with Larne earlier this month, but Healy claims his side aren’t currently in the title mix.
“I was asked the question last week in terms of if it’s a four-horse race,” Healy said on BBC Sportsound. “I basically ruled ourselves out and said it was three, but now it looks like it’s potentially only two in Coleraine and Larne.
"They seem to be running away with it, we’re all playing catch-up, they seem to be winning games consistently...it was four, then it was three, and if you look at it, it’s potentially down to the two main rivals in Larne and Coleraine.”
Callumn Morrison is starting to hit top form for Linfield, following up a brace in their BetMcLean Cup quarter-final win over Newry City by netting another double on Saturday – his first league goals of the campaign.
"Callumn has an incredible amount of ability,” he added. “His argument would be I haven’t played him enough in the correct position.
"Over the last number of weeks with the injuries we’ve had, it has allowed Callumn to basically play in a free role alongside Fitzy (Matthew Fitzpatrick).
"Fitzy helps him with the role he plays for the team, Callumn can do his extra bits. It’s important you have forward players in good form, so that should boost his confidence going forward.”
Only Larne (eight) have conceded fewer goals than Linfield (nine) so far this season with Saturday’s clean sheet their 10th of the campaign.
Healy believes there’s still more to come from his side ahead of a busy festive period which includes fixtures against Glentoran and Coleraine.
"I think we’re going ok,” he said. “Performance levels can always be better.
"Something we try and dictate is that if your performance levels are good, 90% of the time you potentially win the game.
"If we can improve our performances, improve in the final third...our defensive record has been sound for the majority of the season and we have three very important games before the turn of the year with Glenavon, Boxing Day and the potential champions Coleraine on the 30th.
"We’ve lost Chris Shields – I know he’s not on the pitch but he’s kicking every ball, he's in the dressing room and it’s important he still feels he has that role to play.
"Getting Alex (Gorrin) 20 minutes was important. That’s going to build his robustness for the games coming up, (Jamie) Mulgrew is always a plus when he plays, even at 39 – he drives standards.
"The experienced players, Kirk Millar, Kyle McClean, Ben Hall, Sam Roscoe, people like Ethan McGee and Dane McCullough were part of the title-winning side, Chris Johns has played in huge games...it’s important you have that level of experience.”