Linfield are in mid-week action on Match 28 of the Sports Direct Premiership, welcoming visitors Larne to Windsor Park (7.45pm k.o. all-ticket). When the teams met earlier in the season both games finished 1-0 to the away team.

Larne have had a challenging season managing their domestic campaign around participation in the UEFA Conference League, leading to the postponement of several Premiership fixtures, and this has left the Inver Reds with ground to make up. They currently sit 5th in the table, 22 points adrift of leaders Linfield, with 5 games in hand. In their last outing they suffered a damaging 1-0 defeat against Crusaders at Inver Park. 

There has been further disruption for the club as manager Tiernan Lynch sought pastures new at Derry City, and the team has been under the charge of club stalwart Gary Haveron as Lynch’s replacement, Nathan Rooney, was found to be unqualified for the role.

Linfield kept well ahead of the chasing pack with a 2-2 draw at Ballymena United’s Showgrounds. Quality football was at a minimum on a very heavy pitch, and Linfield supporters were delighted to rescue a point with Kyle McClean’s late, late, equaliser. 

Both teams will face off under the Windsor Park floodlights determined to take something from a crucial game – players and fans alike fired up and ready to go for it.

COYB! 

By Ken Garrett.