David Healy highlights importance of Linfield fans ahead of crunch Larne showdown
David Healy has highlighted the important role Linfield fans can play until the end of this term after feeling they helped get his side over the line against rivals Glentoran – and hopes for more of the same in Tuesday’s crunch showdown with league leaders Larne.
After their Premiership title defence looked almost certainly over last month, Linfield have roared back into the Gibson Cup picture by winning six consecutive league matches, including Saturday’s 1-0 triumph over the Glens.
With firm favourites Larne failing to win any of their last three – Gary Haveron’s side lost 3-2 against Carrick Rangers on Friday – Linfield could apply further pressure with a positive result at Inver Park.
Healy’s men currently sit five points behind the Inver Reds with nine matches left to play, while second-placed Coleraine and Glentoran remain in the title hunt.
While no team has collected more points at home this season than Linfield (38), away form has halted table progression – the Blues have won just five of 14 matches on the road.
Healy has claimed lifting his seventh league title as Linfield manager isn’t an impossible task and victory over Larne, who suffered their first home defeat of the campaign against an in-form Carrick, would leave them as serious contenders.
With a healthy Linfield support driving them to weekend derby delight, Healy believes the club’s fans could play a big part.
"As a football club, we don't only want the same supporters coming back, we want to gain more supporters,” he told the club’s media channel. “Roy (McGivern, chairman) has talked about the investment recently...the investment we gain at the football club, we bring it in ourselves through Europe, sales of players and gates from games (like Saturday).
"I understand the frustration...I get battered at times for what I say after games, but the supporters are key to this football club, to performances and the games we play. They ask for effort, energy, performance and they'll get behind us.
"Inver has always been a tough place since Larne got promoted. They were double champions and have a huge squad loaded with players with huge potential and those who have won league titles.
"We move on...the preparation started on Saturday, we were in on Sunday and we will go again on Tuesday for a really difficult game."
Linfield’s unbeaten league run currently stands at nine while across the last 10 played by each top-flight team, none have registered more points than the Blues (23), scored more goals (24) or conceded fewer (six).
Kirk Millar is determined to continue building on recent form and knows just how crucial their trip to Larne is.
"We’ve had a good month and turned things around after a poor start to the season,” said Millar. “We know as players it wasn’t good enough.
"We have reset and we’re all singing off the same hymn sheet. We’re playing positively, the energy is positive.
"It’s a massive game (against Larne). We have to be positive and keep this run going.
"We’re playing very well as a team and we have to show that there, show our belief and kick on for the rest of the season.”