David Healy has told his players they will have to up the ante if they are to overturn a 2-0 deficit in Thursday night’s Europa League third round clash in Switzerland.
Even though the Linfield boss made a staggering ELEVEN chances to the team that lost 2-0 at home to FC Zurich last week, he was far from happy with the performance in Saturday’s White Ribbon Charity Shield decider against Crusaders at Windsor Park.
The deadly Paul Heatley broke the deadlock for the Shore Road team with a picture finish on 68 minutes, curling the ball over the outstretched gloves of goalkeeper David Walsh.
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And, within four minutes, Heatley turned provider for his team’s second of the day, teeing up new boy Rory McKeown to drill the ball under the body of Walsh to seal a 2-0 win.
Healy obviously had his mind on other things – the Europa League – but he was still far from happy with his boys’ contribution.
“We didn’t get a lot out of the game,” he said. “The performance wasn’t at the required standard we had hoped for. There were bits of the game that were ok.
“It certainly wasn’t the result we wanted, first and foremost. I felt with the team we selected it should have been good enough to win the game, so that was disappointing.
“I was also disappointed with the goals we conceded. Over the 90 minutes, we didn’t work their goalkeeper enough, especially with the amount of attacking players we had on the pitch.
“Yes, we made 11 changes from the European game in midweek, so I don’t want to be too harsh on the players. We’ll now get our head around the European game in Switzerland on Thursday – it's a massive challenge for us.”
His opposite number, Stephen Baxter, saluted the finishing instincts of Heatley, who turn the game on its head after his introduction as a second half replacement.
“It was a classic goal,” beamed Baxter. “He does that stuff in training non-stop, he’s that type of player, with so much pace and quality.
“When Paul Heatley is on it, he is a joy to watch. He produced a little moment of magic and also showed a lot of quality for our second goal. He produced a great turn and showed great composure before laying it off for McKeown.”
With the Danske Bank Premiership getting under way next week, Baxter admitted the game was just what his boys needed, following their Europa Conference League defeat to top Swiss side Basel.
“We probably shaded it in terms of chances created," he said. "Obviously, Linfield had eye on Thursday evening. They rested quite a few, but when you looked at the quality of the team they put out, it was quite staggering.
“In (Joel) Cooper, they’ve probably got one of the best players in the League, so it was a strong, strong team. They had to bring in some of their big guns late on.
“I was pleased with our efforts and what we got out of it. But we’re not getting carried away in any shape or form, it was a pre-season game – there wasn’t three points on offer.
“By the same token, the win lifts the team and helps get us prepared for what is up ahead of us.”
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