Linfield manager David Healy humbled by crowd reaction ahead of memorable 400th game in charge with Europa Conference League victory

A Chris McKee brace and Jack Scott strike put the Blues 3-0 up against their Albanian opponents and the only tinge of disappointment on an otherwise special evening in Belfast was Daniel Finlayson’s red card accompanied by Marko Juric’s late goal ahead of the second-leg next week.

Healy has picked up five Premiership titles, two Irish Cup crowns and almost led Linfield to European group stage football twice since taking over in October 2015, currently boasting a winning average of 61% in the dugout.

He’ll be hoping his side can take another step towards Europa Conference League qualification by seeing the job through in Shkodër to set up a second-round clash with Polish outfit Pogoń Szczecin.

Healy was greeted by a standing ovation on Thursday night while club chairman Roy McGivern also made a presentation to the 43-year-old and it’s clear how much managing the club remains to Northern Ireland’s record goalscorer.

"I'm delighted to have received a standing ovation from the supporters beforehand and you feel humbled and sometimes embarrassed by things like that,” he told LinfieldTV. “Everyone knows and I've said it for the years I've been here how much managing Linfield means to me, how much I put into the job - there's nobody more disappointed by losing games than myself.

"I take a lot of that with me. I'm delighted to reach 400 and hopefully the 402nd next week will prove equally as exciting as it was tonight.

"We've the Welders on Saturday where other players will get deserved minutes to make sure they are fit and healthy. Somebody is going to need to come in and play for Daniel so it's about choosing the right player and we'll certainly do that.

"We'll go to Albania with our tails up. It's always a challenge European football with the heat, humidity and conditions but we'll make sure we're prepared as best as we can."

Healy was disappointed with the second yellow card produced to defender Finlayson in the 88th-minute by referee Ivo Torres but also reflected on many positives.

"I thought the level of performance was good,” he added. “The sour moment is obviously the disappointing part at the end when you don't only concede a goal after being so dominant but also lose a player.

"Daniel was exceptional again and it was a soft yellow. I actually don't think the referee realised he had already booked him.

"I watch tons of European football and for it to be a second yellow card it has to be more than it was for Daniel.

"He's disappointed, we're disappointed that we didn't go and finish it off and win as comfortably as we should have but taking the positives, our fitness levels were good, we took our chances when they came, we worked hard to create the opportunities and the result is positive."