David Healy sends clear Linfield message to 'play as if the next game is your last...who knows, it may be'
Linfield manager David Healy understands frustrations felt by Blues supporters after his side slipped to a third consecutive Premiership defeat for the first time since 2017 – and insists players need to perform like it’s their last match because “who knows, it may be”.
The reigning league champions were dealt a hammer blow in their bid to retain the Gibson Cup with Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to Coleraine, which came only a matter of days after suffering defeat against ‘Big Two’ rivals Glentoran.
Linfield have slipped to fifth after Dungannon Swifts leapfrogged Healy’s men following their victory over basement club Glenavon and they trail leaders Larne by 14 points.
"It's really disappointing,” reflected Healy on the club’s media channel. “I don't think there was much in the first half, we had one or two moments which if we had been more decisive or clinical could have opened up the door, but we didn't.
"There's no reason in terms of why we didn't. The players tried, they put a lot of effort into the game.
"It's frustrating for the large amount of supporters that turned up, I get that and I get their frustrations at the end more than most because I hurt just as much as they do, if not more.
"It's my job and responsibility to provoke a reaction, a response and try to be better for the next game."
Linfield will look to halt their Premiership slump when they welcome Bangor to Windsor Park on Saturday – they’ll also face the Seasiders seven days later at the same venue in an Irish Cup fifth round showdown.
Across the last five league matches played by each top-flight team, only bottom two Glenavon and Carrick Rangers (three) have collected fewer points than Linfield (four), but Healy insists there’s only one way to turn their fortunes around.
"It's important you react and respond,” he added. “As painful as it is, sometimes you have to endure pain along the way.
"Some of the players around the dressing room potentially haven't had that.
"I've suffered here over the period and am suffering at the minute, we're all suffering and frustrated.
"There's only one way to fix it and that's to put your big boy trousers on and play as if the next game is your last...who knows, it may be."