Linfield extended their lead at the top of the Sports Direct Premiership to 13 points with a gritty 1-0 win over Glenavon at Windsor Park this afternoon on a day when Robbie McDaid made headlines by making his first appearance for the Blues in almost two years following a torrid time with injuries.
The Blues were without their top goalscorer Joel Cooper whose fifth booking of the season in Tuesday’s 1-0 win away to Dungannon Swifts meant he reached the threshold for an automatic one-match suspension, so he was replaced by Chris McKee in the starting line-up in a change of shape. Euan East missed out through injury and was replaced in the team by Stephen Fallon in the Blues’ other change.
Glenavon had some injury concerns of their own. Strike partners David McDaid and Michael O’Connor were doubts for the match but were deemed fit to play once assessed in the lead-up to the match, whilst Niall Quinn was only fit enough to take a place on the bench. However, Gareth Deane and Rhys Marshall missed out entirely through injury.
Linfield made a strong start to the match and took an early lead with a goal in the eleventh minute. It was a lovely team goal by the Blues as Matthew Fitzpatrick came deep to deftly flick the ball around the corner to overlapping left wing-back Ethan McGee whose first-time cross on his weaker left foot was inch-perfect for Chris McKee to head in from a central position inside the box – his sixth goal of the season.
The Blues continued to search for further goals and created some good opportunities. A set-piece saw the ball fall for Stephen Fallon the edge of the box before the midfielder saw a first-time volley cleared off the line by Glenavon’s Peter Campbell. The ball was then retrieved by Kirk Millar whose low cross-come-shot from the left side of the box whistled agonisingly wide of the far post, somehow without a touch on the way through.
Matthew Fitzpatrick also threatened when he cut inside from the left after good play from Jamie Mulgrew to beat multiple players before releasing him down the channel, but the forward’s strike flashed wide of the far post.
McKee then almost scored a second when he showed good movement to meet a pre-rehearsed corner routine as Kirk Millar picked out the striker peeling into space at the front post area and he struck a first-time effort well but was denied by a good save by Mark Byrne who tipped the effort over the crossbar.
Linfield ‘keeper David Walsh was untested in the first half, but he was sweating momentarily in the 34th minute as a corner from Glenavon’s highly-rated teenager Christopher Atherton almost went directly in, striking the top of the crossbar before dropping behind for a goalkick.
HT: Linfield 1-0 Glenavon
Linfield’s second half performance was below-par and it turned into a real slog as the Blues ground out a hard-fought win. The Blues threatened two minutes into the second half as Matthew Fitzpatrick headed just wide from Stephen Fallon’s cross from the right. That was about all that Linfield created in the second half.
Glenavon came out fighting after the break and had a real go. They were positive and got bodies forward, although lacked punch when they got to the final third. Whilst Glenavon had the better of the second half, David Walsh remained to be pretty much untested in regards to meaningful attempts at goal.
The Blues handed Glenavon a good opportunity early in the second half when Ben Hall’s attempted clearance went straight to full-back David Toure who raced onto the ball to put his laces through it, however Ethan McGee came up trumps with an excellent flying block.
The Lurgan Blues were forced into a change on the hour-mark when former Linfield stalwart Mark Haughey pulled up inured and was replaced by another former Linfield stalwart, Niall Quinn, who slotted into the backline. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious for ‘Hawks’ for served Linfield with distinction between 2013-21.
David Healy was then forced to turn to his bench five minutes later as Ben Hall went down injured and he was replaced by Scot Whiteside who was returning from a couple of weeks out through injury, whilst Josh Archer came on in place of Stephen Fallon whose workload is being managed after a tough time with injuries.
As the game entered the final 20 minutes, Glenavon continued to have plenty of possession as is the blueprint of a Paddy McLaughlin team, and they went close as David McDaid headed Peter Campbell’s left-wing cross onto the roof of the net.
One of the loudest cheers of the day was reserved for the 77th minute when Robbie McDaid took to the pitch for the first time in 672 days. The forward has been through a torrid time with injuries, with an ACL injury initially in February 2023, and then a further Achilles injury on his comeback last December. His teammates, staff and supporters were all delighted to see his hard work and determination rewarded.
McDaid was straight into the thick of it as he made a couple of well-timed runs down the inside-right channel, on one occasion fizzing a dangerous cross goal. His endeavour was there for all to see, and he showed very encouraging signs for a player who has had very little football in the last two seasons.
Still, the Blues were unable to get a firm grip of the game and were having to dig in as the game entered five additional minutes. Glenavon had a big chance in the second of the five additional minutes as substitute Keith Ward latched onto a knock-down inside the box following a deep free-kick, but he hammered his strike wide of goal.
Ward had a further opportunity with 30 seconds remaining with a free-kick in a dangerous area 20 yards from goal, but he fired over the bar as Linfield held on for a hard-fought three points. It was the tough match that was anticipated from the Lurgan Blues who are looking improved under new manager Paddy McLaughlin and were buoyed by a 3-1 win over Crusaders during the week, so David Healy will be delighted with the result, even if the performance won’t have reached his expectations.
Of course, whilst the Blues will sit in a pretty position at Christmas, the table is somewhat skewed by the fact Larne have seven matches in hand due to their involvement in Europe which has now come to an end. Larne are currently 25 points behind the Blues, so if they were to maximise those games in hand they’d be right on Linfield’s tail. This highlights the importance of the Blues’ final two League matches of 2024; firstly, Boxing Day against Glentoran at The Oval as Linfield try to end their unwanted record against the in-form Glens, and then a crunch home match against the current champions Larne on the 30th.
FT: Linfield 1-0 Glenavon
Linfieldfc.com Man of the Match: Matthew Orr
Written by Jamie Megarry