Linfield will have home advantage on match day 31 of the NIFL Danske Bank Premiership when welcoming Dungannon Swifts FC to Windsor Park (3pm ko, all-ticket). NIFL covid-19 safety protocols will be in place for all supporters inside the stadium. This season the Blues have enjoyed comfortable wins both home (3-0) and away (6-1) in the two games already played between the teams.
Friday night's televised clash with Crusaders at Windsor Park, saw the Blues score a late dramatic winner (3-2) in a roller coaster of a game. With the teams seemingly deadlocked on two goals-a-piece, David began to empty his bench of forwards in search of a crucial winning goal. With the Blues looking more inventive moving forward, a third goal duly arrived deep into added time, when young Ethan Devine rose majestically to powerfully head home! At the final whistle, the nervous highly charged atmosphere within the stadium dissipated into the cold Belfast night air as the Linfield supporters and players alike went into celebration overdrive!
Dungannon Swifts come to Windsor on the back of a narrow home defeat (0-1) to Glentoran. This season the Swifts' obvious Achilles Heel has been a porous defence which has leaked 71 goals in just 30 Premiership games. Manager Dean Shiels has invested heavily in a brand of attacking football that unfortunately has at times left the team looking vulnerable at the back. But having almost pulled away from the orbital path surrounding the relegation zone, the Swifts manager can perhaps begin to plan ahead for next season as a Premiership club.
The Blues are looking in pretty good shape at this important juncture in the season. The mandate for the team over the remaining games left to play, must be to simply keep winning by any means possible. A big ask for any team but Linfield do have plenty of title-winning experience in the squad and on the management team. It is an asset which may yet prove to be crucial if the title race goes right to the wire in a ‘battle royale’ final weekend of the season. Hopefully, the Blues can keep on track with a win against a Dungannon side who will come to play good football. David will certainly not be underestimating our opponents, who when they do click, can be a match for any team. Another big vociferous Windsor Park crowd is expected to turn out for what is essentially the first of seven ‘cup finals’. COYB!
Ken Garrett.
