Linfield manager David Healy wants his side to carry winning momentum into their weekend BetMcLean Cup final clash with Glentoran as Portadown visit Windsor Park on Tuesday.

While wider attention from outside of the Blues changing room will be on a first ‘Big Two’ showpiece decider in 16 years, Healy insists his side will be fully focused on the immediate task at hand.

The reigning Premiership champions are looking to keep their defence hopes alive – they currently sit nine points adrift of leaders Larne – which took a major blow following a recent 2-0 defeat to Cliftonville.

That result ended Linfield’s 10-game unbeaten league run with Healy surprised by his side’s performance levels at Solitude.

placeholder image — Linfield manager David Healy. (Photo by Desmond Loughery/Pacemaker Press)

Before a shock Irish Cup exit at the hands of Limavady United, Linfield had put together a seven-game unbeaten streak and another five before losing to the Reds.

"I can't put it down to anything,” said Healy. “We shoot ourselves in the foot.

"We get ourselves to a certain point where you sort of think and believe that everything's all okay and everything's moving in the right direction.

"Then all of a sudden, we don't slowly come down, we basically crash...we've done that against Limavady.

"We rebuild, we build up a little bit of momentum and then all of a sudden we come down with a really, really flat, disappointing performance.

"We're hopeful that we will bounce back against Portadown and then take that in (to the final) because we will need that against Glentoran.”

Both Linfield and Glentoran have been handed midweek Premiership assignments ahead of their crunch showdown on Sunday.

While Healy’s men welcome Portadown, the Glens are on the road to Bangor as they look to apply further pressure on Larne – Declan Devine’s side are just five points adrift of the Inver Reds.

With the Irish Cup quarter-finals taking centre stage on Saturday, Linfield had a free weekend, but Healy would have rather been playing in order to give his side more preparation time for Glentoran.

"I don't think (the Portadown game is a hindrance),” he added. “Hopefully not, I know Glentoran will play on the same night.

"Preferably, and I think we asked, could we play on the Saturday, which probably would have been more appropriate for us because we're out of the Irish Cup.

"We could have played on a Saturday, which gives you a little bit longer for preparation, but we were told that we had to play it on Tuesday to coincide with the Glentoran game.”