Linfield boss David Healy has told Cliftonville they’re now hot favourites to go on and win the league title after the Blues were held by derby rivals Glentoran on Friday night.
He also suggested Paddy McLaughlin's Reds should expect to pick up maximum points in their final game of the campaign against the Glens at the BetMcLean Oval on April 30.
It's fair to say the former Northern Ireland striker isn't expecting any favours from Linfield’s fiercest rivals if the title race goes down to the wire and Glentoran are out of contention for a top-two finish.
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“Cliftonville have four games left but they basically have only three to go because the last game of the season will probably be a non-event,” claimed Healy.
“I imagine Cliftonville will win that game, a million percent.”
Last night’s 1-1 draw with Glentoran at Windsor Park may have extended the champions’ lead at the top to two points, but Cliftonville have Saturday's home fixture with Larne in hand.
Win that and the Reds, who last lifted the Gibson Cup under the late Tommy Breslin in 2013 and 2014, would leapfrog the Blues with three games to play.
“It is massively, massively in Cliftonville’s hands and it’s over to them now,” said Healy.
“The pressure is handed over to Cliftonville and if they go and win four games now, they are the champions, although it’s hard winning a league title, that’s for sure.
“That is not adding any more pressure on Paddy and Cliftonville, but winning titles is hard when it gets to the run-in. Sometimes you can get strange performances or at times strange decisions.
“There may also be a little bit of an edginess. We have to go now and get as many points as we can out of the last three games and see where it takes us.”
Asked if he would be “glued” to Cliftonville’s clash with Larne at Solitude on Saturday afternoon, Healy said: “I will not be anywhere near Solitude.
“I have a son who will maybe listen on the radio, but I will take myself down to Ballyholme beach and go for a walk. I will check (the score) but I will not be glued to it.
“I imagine Cliftonville will be hugely delighted with our result tonight.
“Not only does it give them an opportunity to go top on Saturday with us dropping two points, but it may also take them further away from Glentoran in third.”
Linfield led the Glens when Jordan Stewart’s cross deceived defender Patrick McClean and keeper Aaron McCarey to sneak in at the far post.
But the visitors hit back when Seanan Clucan released Conor McMenamin to cut inside and rifle a thunderous shot into the far roof of the net. It was a superb finish.
A share of the spoils effectively killed off Glentoran’s faint title hopes with the Mersey Street men now lying six points off the summit with only three games left.
And that gap could grow to seven points if Cliftonville capitalise on last night’s stalemate with a win against Larne in North Belfast.
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