Linfield boss David Healy hailed his team’s character and quality as they roared back with a devastating 60-second second half double whammy to leave gutsy Cliftonville on the canvas at a bouncing Windsor Park.
The Reds looked on course for a shock result when Joe Gormley shot them into the lead late on, but Healy’s men bared their title teeth and hit back through quick-fire strikes from Kyle McClean and Matthew Fitzpatrick.
Astonishingly, the result means the Blues have increased their lead to a staggering 16 points over nearest challengers Glentoran at the top of the Sports Direct Premiership table.
“I thought we were very good and certainly deserved winners,” beamed Healy afterwards. “We found ourselves behind because of the capabilities and the quality of Joe Gormley, who has had those qualities for a life time.
“It was a nothing ball into the box and he put it into our net. But we regrouped. Credit to the players, they showed resolve; they showed character and, even more importantly, they showed the quality they have.
“Our two goals were well-worked; the timing of runs and the weight of passes, the players deserve credit. It was a brilliant pass from Cooper for the first one and great run and finish by Kyle.
“And, for the second Chris McKee picked out Fitzy and again he put it away brilliantly. Not being disrespectful to Cliftonville, I thought we were deserved winners.”
Healy believes his boys should have been out of sight at half-time – they even missed a spot kick, Chris Shields having his effort saved by David Odumosu.
He went on: “We should have been well ahead at half-time, so I was frustrated with that. The missed penalty was the biggest chance, but there were other efforts flashing about their penalty box.
“The danger is, when you don’t capitalise on those situations, there is a chance of being punished and Joe did that. The way we finished the game pleased me more than anything. “
There was a poignant moment on 27 minutes when referee Ian McNabb brought the game to a halt in honour of the late Michael Newberry, who played for both clubs.
The two sets of fans stood to applaud the former defender, who sadly passed away on his 27th birthday last month.
Linfield missed a big chance to forge ahead on 38 minutes when Joel Cooper went down under a challenge from Axel Piesold, who appeared to have played the ball. Mr Nabb disagreed and awarded a penalty kick.
Justice was done as Reds’ goalkeeper Odumosu got down to his left to paw away Shields’ effort from the spot.
The game was halted for six minutes after the restart due to a medical emergency in the North Stand, that housed the Cliftonville fans.
But it was the red half of Windsor that erupted 14 minutes from time when Gormley broke the deadlock. Substitute Aaran Pettifer whipped in a cross from the right and Gormley hooked in a brilliant volley.
The Blues were level five minutes later. The enigmatic Cooper produced a little moment of magic on the right before picking out McClean, who drove low and hard past Odumosu.
It got even better for Healy men because they struck again within 60 seconds. This time substitute Chris McKee picked the pocket of Conor Pepper and, having spotted Fitzpatrick’s run, his pass was sublime and the big striker hammer the ball into the bottom corner.
“We were really poor in the first half, we didn’t play . . . we need half-time to come big style,” said Reds boss Jim Magilton. “We discussed a few things and we made a game of it in the second half.
“We began to pass the ball and got the goal; that’s what Joe does best. At one-nil, I was hoping that settles us down.
“But I thought we looked nervy. Linfield were very good in terms of the way they press. They asked questions of us and we didn’t have enough answers, or we didn’t have enough bravery with the ball.
“Their equaliser killed us. They had the momentum when they scored and, we were all over the place for their second goal. There was something like 60 seconds between the two goals.
“It was a cardinal sin. We didn’t have enough breathing space after they equalised. If you give good players time and space, they will punish you.
“Overall, we didn’t do enough, Linfield were deserved winners.”
Linfield: Walsh 7, Roscoe 7, East 7 (Archer 98), Shields 7, McClean 7, Cooper 6, Allen 6 (McKee 72), Ballantyne 7 (McCullough 98), McGee 7, Fitzpatrick 7, Orr 7.
Unused subs: Johns, Annett, McKay, Thompson.
Cliftonville: Odumosu 8, Pepper 6, Addis 7, Kearney 7, Hale 6, Curran 6 (Ojo 81), Conlan 6, Piesold 6 (Pettifer 70), Gormley 7 (Corrigan 98), Glynn 6 (McGuinness 70), Keaney 6.
Unused subs: Ridd, Lowe, Madden.
Referee: Ian McNabb 7.
A massive win for Linfield. The Blues lead the league by 16 points!
Fantastic goal. Fantastic drama
He burst into the box and unleashes a powerful shot that is pushed away by David Walsh. The Reds on top now.