David Healy on what Linfield need to do differently against Shelbourne but there will be no use of the ‘R’ word

Linfield have a two-goal deficit to overhaul against Shelbourne as they look to reach Conference League group stages

Revenge is a word which will be bandied about in some quarters ahead of Linfield’s crucial second leg against Shelbourne, but you won’t hear it from David Healy.

Having lost out to the Shels in the Champions League qualifiers back in July the Blues find themselves with a two-goal deficit to make up in the Conference League play-off.

But despite the frustration of their first leg defeat at Tolka Park last week Healy insists their focus is on how to turn the tie around to their advantage.

“Someone asked me are we going to use the revenge word for the second leg. It’s not really a word that I want to use in the dressing room to try and inspire the players,” said Healy.

“But there’s got to be a little bit of firing, it’s an opportunity. What we didn’t do against Shelbourne last time at Windsor was get the first goal. And again maybe change the momentum of the crowd, change how Shelbourne are feeling.

“No matter what’s going to happen, it is absolutely paramount that we score the first goal.

“I can imagine Joey always saying all the correct things, that they still have to go to Windsor, they still have to defend well, they still have to do this.

“But we’re probably going to have to have a look and see how we can get the best out of our team. Matthew Fitzpatrick will miss the game, which is a big blow.

“I think we missed his physicality for the last 70 minutes, never mind being a man down, I think we missed his physical attributes for the last 70 minutes. Are we better equipped? Physically, yeah, I think we are.

“Obviously the challenge then becomes for us, if the game becomes too open after 25, 30, 40 minutes in the first half, Shels will pick you off, they’ll be looking for the mid-point run down into the sides of Windsor, so we’ll still have to make sure and take care of that.

“So we’ll not be gung-ho, we’ll not be chasing it after 10 or 15 minutes, we’ll try and build into the game like we did the last time and hopefully if the opportunities arise, the half chances that we missed last time and we take them.

“Then if we need to open up after an hour or so we’ll use the bench and we’ll have a right go.”