Linfield must maintain modern tradition in age-old 'Big Two' Boxing Day clash with Glentoran as David Healy delivers 'in-house' message
Linfield boss David Healy wants to maintain a modern tradition when ‘Big Two’ rivals Glentoran contest the latest chapter in a Boxing Day derby which dates back to 1933.
Decades of festive crackers have delivered some of the showpiece talking points in Irish League history but Healy’s full focus is on the present ahead of facing old enemy Glentoran in front of an anticipated 10,500-plus crowd at Windsor Park.
With the Blues recovering from last weekend’s loss at top-flight bottom side Glenavon and the Glens flying high following defeat of title-challenging Coleraine, the stakes go far beyond simple bragging rights.
Healy will set out a challenge to his players to protect the Blues’ unbeaten home record and this season’s run of a perfect winning response to defeats at Ballymena United and Portadown.
Any path to celebrating full points at the final whistle on the pitch will start with the manager’s planning.
"It's always about what happens next,” said Healy. "For me, we've made good habits over the last number of years where we haven't lost many back-to-back.
"That's going to be important that we man up and we improve and we get the required standards that we didn't get (against Glenavon).
"It always starts with me.
"More often than not we address things like this, we'll do that in-house and we'll get ready for a big game.
"It's my responsibility...I found out a little bit more about us collectively (against Glenavon).
"We're still developing, there's players missing out on a little bit more experience, (players) missing probably out of the dressing room.
"I will take absolutely nothing from that (against Glenavon).
"But what I will do is I'll take away my thought process in what I need going forward, I'll assess that and hopefully address it.
"For the players, the importance of a performance...a hard-working, honest performance will certainly be required against Glentoran."
Linfield sit a single point ahead of the Glens in the league standings.
"Glentoran are more than a threat,” said Healy. “It's an opportunity for both sides to go and hopefully express themselves.”