Blues beat Newry to extend lead at top of table

O'Connor double puts Linfield in league driving seat

O'Connor
Author: Nigel GouldPublished 23rd Jan 2019

Linfield are now six points clear at the top of the Dankse Bank Premiership.

They beat Newry City 2-0 last night – with a Michael O’Connor (main pic) double sealing the win.

The Blues are now unbeaten in 12 matches but speaking to Linfield TV, David Healy said he was simply relieved to see the game out.

“Great victory - great three points on a horrible night,” he said.

“It took us a lengthy time to get out of Windsor Park tonight.

“It took us a lengthy time to get on to Boucher Road.

“When you are travelling down and the kick off time is put back you always sort of wonder are the players prepared are they mentally switched on?”

action from newry v linfield

Newry can consider themselves unfortunate not to have got something out of the game.

Dale Montgomery had a penalty superbly saved by Gareth Deane, who was standing in for the injured Roy Carroll.

Another defeat, though – their sixth in a row – keeps Newry fighting for their lives near the foot of the table.

They are eight points adrift of Dungannon Swifts in 10th place.

Speaking to Downtown & Cool FM, Darren Mullen said he was delighted with the players’ overall performance and believes there is still plenty to play for in the season.

“There are enough positives to take out of the game tonight to take into the weekend,” he told us.

“Linfield are the best side in the country and I expect them to go on and win the league.

“To play as well as we did tonight and to be disappointed shows you how well we played.”

Andy Mitchell

Meanwhile, it is understood that the injury suffered by Linfield's half-time substitute Andrew Mitchell who had to be stretchered off in the game (above), may not be as serious as first feared.