Linfield boss David Healy insists his team face two ‘cup finals’ as they close in on their fourth successive Premiership title.
With only two games of an intriguing battle for the Gibson Cup remaining, the reigning champions hold a one-point advantage over Cliftonville at the top of the table.
It could all change in the penultimate day in the title race as the Blues welcome Larne, while Crusaders face the Reds in a mouth-watering north Belfast derby.
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Although Healy’s boys took a giant step towards retaining the crown with their win over Stephen Baxter’s Crues on Tuesday, Healy insists there is still a lot of work to do.
“We now basically face two cup finals,” said the former Northern Ireland international striker.
“Nothing is won yet; we have two huge games coming up.
“We want the fans out to back us for what now are two crucial fixtures (they are at home to Coleraine next week) . . . come and support your team.
“It’s not going to be plain sailing. It’s going to be edgy, Larne are a good side.
“I can’t thank my players enough for the application and their attitude this season – it’s now down to a two-horse race.
“We have secured European football for next season, but we are Linfield . . . we are greedy. We want to retain our title.
“But we know we have no divine right as a club, or as a manager, to win it, we have to earn it.”
Healy added: “I was so proud of the players on Tuesday at a horrendously difficult venue. I’ve said before, they rarely let me down.
“We’ve had a lot of questions thrown at us this year. There were a lot of doubts, but one thing, as a manager, I see on a daily basis, they empty the tank for me.”
Meanwhile, Crusaders manager Stephen Baxter insisted he will continue to ‘rotate’ his team for the visit of the Reds, with the Irish Cup Final looming early next month.
“Football people are ferociously competitive,” he said. “David Healy would have expected no favours – and he got no favours on Tuesday night. That’s how it should be.
“When teams are in the hunt for a title, they have to earn it. It will be the same on Saturday against Cliftonville. If they are going to win it, they have to win it themselves.
“We have to look after ourselves and get on with our own business. The performance (against Linfield) from my point, I was extra pleased – just a hair disappointed with the result.
“Performance is everything. If anything, it has also given me a bigger headache than I expected, with the Cup Final looming.
“I asked each and every one of them to show me your worth for a Cup Final place and, my word, they have responded.”
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