CRUSADERS may be four points clear at the top of the Danske Bank Premiership, but David Healy’s Linfield are quietly confident that they have enough in their locker to dethrone Stephen Baxter’s champions.
Since the two clubs drew 0-0 a fortnight a go, both have picked up four points. However, it feels Linfield are growing in stature, while Crusaders are having to work hard for their wins.
The Crues had to fall back on the exploits of goalkeeper Sean O’Neill to claim a win over Coleraine on Saturday and a draw with Glenavon on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Linfield secured a point at Mourneview Park despite playing with nine men for 80 minutes, before demolishing in-form Ballymena United at the Showgrounds on Tuesday night.
Midfielder Jamie Mulgrew typifies the growing confidence at Windsor Park. He scored a wonderful goal for the Blues in their hugely impressive 4-1 midweek win.
Speaking ahead of today’s game at Stangmore Park (3pm) against Dungannon Swifts, the Bangor native said: “We were aware that we couldn’t allow Crusaders to get too far ahead of us, which is why, in hindsight, the 0-0 draw at Windsor Park was a good result for us, even though we were desperate to win. We’re coming up to a busy time, with a lot of fixtures in December, so we had to keep things tight.
“We’ve managed to keep that gap at four since then. A four-point gap in November isn’t a massive issue as there is so much football to be played. When you start falling eight or nine points behind, then it feels like a mountain to climb.
“We’ve played them twice and drew with them twice, which I think shows we’ve improved. People were saying last year that Crusaders could bully us. I think we’ve changed that perception. We can match them.”
Mulgrew is expecting Dungannon to provide a stern test, despite the fact they sit in eighth place.
“The nature of this league is that all 12 teams are capable of beating each other on the day.
“We’ve got to be on the money against Dungannon on Saturday or else they well beat us. That’s true every week.
“They drew with us at Windsor earlier in the season and they’ve had some other great results this season, so they are a dangerous outfit.”
Mulgrew’s manager David Healy shares the midfielder’s opinion. Healy said: “Dungannon is a tough place to go. We scraped a win there last season, so we know what we have to do.
“I actually think Dungannon have improved since then. I watched them against Coleraine last week and I was very impressed with them.
“But I have full faith in my players to get a result. They are full of confidence at the moment and were superb against Ballymena during the week. I want to see a repeat performance and if we do that, we will get a good result.”
