Match day 34 of the NIFL Danske Bank Premiership sees the first game for Linfield in the top six split in the table. The Blues will be heading to Solitude for this top of the table clash with Cliftonville FC (5.30pm ko, all-ticket). The game will be streamed live by BBC Sport NI on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website. The teams last met at Solitude in January when the points were shared in a 2-2 draw.
In our last outing Linfield came from behind to beat basement club Warrenpoint Town at Milltown, with a dramatic last minute winner (2-1) from super-sub Ethan Devine. A crucial goal, which keeps Linfield’s title push on the crest of a wave, that may also torpedo Warrenpoint’s listing hopes of Premiership survival.
On Tuesday night Cliftonville made full use of their game in hand, when the prolific Joe Gormley hit a brace of goals in a win (2-0) over Portadown at Shamrock Park. The Reds certainly kept their drive for the title moving forward, for what was an impressive seventh league win on the bounce, to move within a point of Linfield at the top of the table.
With the business end of the season now well and truly upon us, each and every point gained or lost in these last five remaining games, is a potential season changer. The Linfield players will certainly have benefitted from the fortnight break, to resume action both refreshed and focused for the hectic title run-in. With so much at stake both managers will be expecting a tense, competitive ninety minutes of football under the Solitude floodlights. Whilst the Reds will enjoy home advantage, Linfield have an excellent record at Solitude, having remained unbeaten there since 2017. A very hard game for the neutral to call, with just fine margins separating these two very evenly matched teams. A massive game in this the first furlong on the home straight of this intriguing title race! Which team will go on to be first past the post? COYB!
Ken Garrett.
