Linfield will have home advantage on match day 10 of the Sports Direct Premiership, when welcoming Newry City FC to Windsor Park (3pm ko, all-ticket). In last season's corresponding fixture, Joel Cooper bagged four goals in an emphatic 7-0 win.
Newry City manager Gary Boyle will be looking to build on last season's relatively successful campaign, ensuring the border club retained their Premiership status, by just avoiding becoming embroiled in a dreaded promotion-relegation play-off tie. They have however had a challenging start to this season, placed tenth in a heavily congested last third of the table. On their travels, City notably grabbed maximum points from visits to both Carrick Rangers (2-0) and Glenavon (3-1). In their last outing they battled from behind to draw (2-2) with Dungannon Swifts, banking a first home point of the season. The obvious focus must now be to make the Showgrounds a very difficult ground for visiting teams to take points from.
In the Newry squad are likely to be ex-Linfield players Lorcan Forde, Adam Carroll, Adam Salley, and seasoned defender Ryan McGivern. Michael O'Connor, who recently signed on in the role of player/assistant manager, brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the club. The former NI international, has a CV that includes time spent at Scunthorpe, Crewe, Lincoln, Port Vale, Notts County, Salford City and Glenavon.
On Tuesday night, Linfield tightened their grip at the top of the table, with a thoroughly deserved home win (2-0) over Crusaders. The Blues were right on their game from the off, surging ahead with first half goals from Joel Cooper and Matthew Fitzpatrick. Joel was shining light for the Blues up front, firing home a well-placed shot from distance, followed later by a pinpoint cross headed home by Matthew to open his goals account at the club. The half time score line could have been bigger as the Blues pushed on to a highly pressurised Crusaders back line. A blue riband performance from David Healy's men, that fully merited the thunderous applause and acclaim from the Linfield supporters at the final whistle.
Newry will be coming to Windsor expecting to come under some sustained bouts of pressure. To counter they will probably be set up to defend both in depth and in numbers, whilst still remaining a threat on the break. The Blues will want to try and unlock the Newry back line early, to avoid getting dragged into a war of attrition. Hopefully the Linfield players and supporters alike, can keep enjoying that winning feeling on Saturday! COYB!
Ken Garrett.
