David Healy calls for Linfield to go about Shelbourne clash ‘in the correct manner’ on and off the pitch

Partial stadium ban hanging over Linfield after fan behaviour in first meeting with Shelbourne at Windsor Park

As Linfield prepare for one of their biggest nights in recent history David Healy wants them to go about things “in the correct manner” on and off the pitch.

The Blues welcome Shelbourne to Windsor Park this evening hoping to overturn a two-goal deficit and earn their place in the group stages of the Conference League.

It’s the second time in a matter of weeks the Irish Premiership champions have entertained their League of Ireland counterparts, with Linfield slapped with a €12,000 fine after their first meeting back in July.

UEFA hit the Blues with a €10,000 fine for the “racist and/or discriminatory behaviour of its supporters” and €2,000 for the lighting of fireworks during the second leg of their Champions League qualifier, and they were also handed a partial stadium ban, which was suspended for two years.

Healy and the club have made a plea to fans attending tonight’s much-anticipated clash to focus on supporting their team and helping them progress in the competition.

“My message to the fans is as always, come, sing, make as much racket noise as you can, but make sure it’s done in the correct way.

“I did like the terminology the club used, our great club, which it is. I describe myself as privileged in the position I’m in, so don’t be letting us down, don’t be letting the club down.

“We’ll try and do our utmost on the pitch to create a level of performance atmosphere. And it’s important then that the supporters who do come, and we have an unbelievable fan base home and away, come and support this football club.

“We urge our own fans to make sure that they do it in the correct manner, and we’ll try and do it in the correct manner on the pitch.

“I would imagine they’ll be in pretty early tomorrow night, trying to create that atmosphere, trying to create that electricity in and around the ground.

“As I’ve stated, and the club have always stated, we have an incredible fan base, hugely supportive, but of course sometimes it can be highly critical and sometimes a small minority, and it is a small minority, have let us down in previous seasons.

“We urge them to come and do what you need to be doing, get behind the team first and foremost, get together and create the atmosphere.

“When we do do that, especially on a European night here, I thought the atmosphere in the first game against Shels here was brilliant. Can we improve on that tomorrow? I think we can, so I urge them to get behind the team.”

Shelbourne head to Belfast with a 3-1 lead as they look to progress in a European competition at Windsor for the second time in a matter of weeks.

The first win back in July saw Shels celebrate on the pitch in front of their travelling support , but Healy insists he had no issue with their post-match celebrations.

“No, they had progressed through the first round of the Champions League,” said Healy.

“Would we have done the same if we had won down in Dublin? Who knows. But absolutely no issues…teams celebrate.

“I do sometimes have an issue domestically when a team maybe beats you here and then all of a sudden becomes the be-all and end-all and the beat box is on and they’re banging your doors and whatever else, and then I check their next three or four results and I haven’t won a game since. I do have an issue with that.”