Manager’s programme notes

Posted : 15th May 2021

Today we will face a huge challenge from a Larne team that will come here aiming for a win, to boost their hopes of securing an automatic qualifying place in next season’s Europa League.

Larne beat us twice earlier in the season at Inver Park, so we are fully aware of their various strengths but we have prepared thoroughly in training, to be ready to face the challenge that will come our way today.

We are in a strong position in the league table, eight points clear with only three games remaining but all we are focused on is winning today’s game to see us over the finishing line in what has been a gruelling league campaign.

The players have been thoroughly professional in the way they have conducted themselves, on and off the pitch, throughout what has been an unprecedented and difficult season and I can’t praise and thank them enough for their considerable efforts this far.

We go into today’s game on the back of two pleasing wins in the Irish Cup. I was delighted with the professional manner we went about our business in both the 5-2 win against Dungannon and the midweek 3-1 win in Loughgall. Shayne Lavery was clinical in front of goal and his impressive hat trick saw us through to an Irish cup semi-final against Ballymena in Lurgan on Tuesday.

We won’t give Tuesday’s game our focus and attention until today’s game is hopefully out of the road (successfully) but the Irish Cup is a major trophy and priority for us.

We will have assessed the squad for any injuries after Tuesday’s game but hopefully, everyone came through Thursday’s training session without any major issues.

We are aware that several players will leave the club over the close season and we have identified several players who we feel can come in and make a significant impact at the club. The coming weeks will prove very busy, as we set about the task of strengthening the squad.

Before we turn our attention to the opening of the transfer window, we want to finish this season as strongly as we possibly can. If we can secure a win in today’s game, we will have achieved our main objective for the season and hopefully the players can turn in a performance to help secure the positive result we need.

I know so many of our loyal supporters would love to be here today in person to help drive us on to the success we crave in today’s game but unfortunately, the safe return of supporters to grounds is still some time away,

As this is the final home game of what we hope will be a successful season, I want to thank the players and all the staff for their significant contributions and efforts to date. One more big push is required to see us equal the world record of 55 league title and I know you will all be watching the live stream on Linfield tv and wiling us on, to secure the win we need to bring further much sought-after success to this very special club and institution.
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