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Steven Crawford

Chris Shields says 'harsh' half-time talk led to 'scintillating' response

Chris Shields labelled Linfield's second half performance as "scintillating" at times as they blew Glenavon away to close the gap at the top of the table.

The sides went into half-time all square at 1-1 in some difficult conditions, but the red-hot Blues were ruthless after the break scoring five without reply.

Sam Roscoe, Eetu Vertainen, Max Haygarth and a double from the penalty spot by Shields pulled Linfield to within three points of leaders Cliftonville.

Read next: Paddy McLaughlin determined to protect Sean Moore from 'ridiculous' pressure

"It was good but to be fair we thought we probably should have been in at half-time in front," said the midfielder.

"We were harsh on ourselves at half-time because we felt we should have been up.

"We had good enough chances to be maybe 3-1 up at the break.

"It could have been the story of our year not taking our chances, but we needed to bounce back after Tuesday night and we did that.

"The second half performance was definitely scintillating at times, I thought we were free flowing and really took the game to Glenavon.

"They had a fantastic result on Tuesday, we know it's never easy coming here, especially on a day like that.

"The wind can dictate things and sometimes you just have to grind it out and win anyway possible.

"To our credit that wasn't the case and we got the ball down and won in a fashionable way.

"The game kind of freed up in the second half and the movement between myself, Jamie (Mulgrew) and Kyle (McClean) meant we always found ourselves on the ball.

"That's what we try to do every week and we do it in training, today was one of those days when you're on the ball more often than not, we find we're a better team when we do play like that.

"The lads who were moaning at half-time were shut up with the ball going into the back of the net and that's what we like to see."

Shields certainly made a telling contribution from the spot and joked he was slightly disappointed to be taken off before notching his hat-trick!

The experienced midfielder though was only too happy to play his part and step up from the spot.

"I've tried to be a penalty taker but playing with the strikers I did at Dundalk I didn't always get the chance to take them," he said.

"It was bestowed on me when I came up here and I'm happy to oblige.

"You can easily get into your own head if you think too much about it.

"Sometimes when you're running up you think you better not change your mind, the second one hit the side netting so I don't think he would have got it anyway.

"When you're on a hat-trick you don't want to come off though do you? No at my age I'm happy enough to get taken off and get a few minutes rest."

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