The Blues ‘lost control’ in the second half against league leaders Coleraine according to Healy, who lost Kirk Millar to a growing injury list.
Linfield manager David Healy believes his defending league champions were ‘naive’ as they threw away a two goal lead against Coleraine. The table-topping Bannsiders came from behind in the second half at the Showgrounds on Tuesday night to stun the Blues.
Matthew Shevlin and Charlie Dunne cancelled out goals from Linfield’s Matt Fitzparick and Sam Roscoe. The latter really should have made it 3-0 before the break but the Blues ‘lost control’ in the second half according to Healy, who lost Kirk Millar to a growing injury list.
“We didn’t control the game well enough in the second half,” admitted the manager. “We didn’t do enough to stop the first goal, a cross coming in. But we lost control. And we lost out most experienced player with Kirk (Millar) with a niggle in his calf.
“You don’t have the resources there to delve into, a (Chris) Shields or a (Jamie) Mulgrew in the middle of the park. We just looked a little bit naive maybe in the middle of the pitch.
“When you don’t keep the ball for three or four passes, you end up defending. But Coleraine are a good side, with good players. Credit to them, it was a tough night.
“But the immediate thought is disappointment not to win that game. It’s a learning curve.
“As good as we were in the first half, we had a huge chance to make it 3-0 just before the half,” added Healy
“We came out in the second half and they changed their shape. Again, we spoke about it at half-time. We knew they would have a go. They emptied the bench.
Injuries to the likes of Shields and Mulgrew have left the defending champions threadbare in midfield. While Shields is out for the season, Healy believes that Mulgrew will return to action in a matter of weeks.
Alex Rodriguez and Robbie McDaid are closer to a return.
Sympathy for the Blues will be in short supply in the Irish League and Healy accepts that is the challenge for any Linfield player.
“Playing for Linfield is a privilege, I have said that recently,it comes with pressure. Clubs like Coleraine, searching for a first league title in 50 years, Larne when they come in a number of years ago. They have the extra snap, the extra bite,” he said.
“To any neutral, it would be great for someone new to win the league, but that’s the challenge for any Linfield player. The supporters know that. They were brilliant tonight, turned out in huge number.
“If we can learn from our performance, from the second half, when the opportunity arises to potentially kill the game before half-time, and then manage the game a little bit better in the second half.”
The Blues travel to Solitude on Sunday to face Cliftonville, just over a week on from a 4-1 County Antrim Shield drubbing at the hands of the Reds in north Belfast.
“We were humbled there last week in the County Antrim (Shield), so it’s important that we go and put on a better show. There will be a few changes obviously from that game,” said former Northern Ireland star Healy.
“The sooner we get one or two back, you need your leaders.”
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