A brace from midfielder Kyle McClean ensured Linfield returned to winning ways with a 2-0 win over struggling Glenavon in a Sports Direct Premiership clash at Windsor Park yesterday afternoon. It was a comfortable victory for the Blues, with Glenavon failing to register a shot.
There was a bit of pressure on the Blues to deliver yesterday afternoon, having picked up just one point from their previous two League fixtures – drawing 1-1 against Glentoran at The Oval last Friday before going down 1-0 to Ballymena United at Ballymena Showgrounds on Tuesday evening.
David Healy made three changes to the team that lost on Warden Street on Tuesday as Sam Taylor, Callumn Morrison and Chris McKee came into the starting eleven in place of Dane McCullough, Kirk Millar and Kieran Offord. McCullough dropped out of the squad completely, with Charlie Allen coming back in as a substitute.
Glenavon came into the game without a point from their opening seven League matches, so confidence is probably low among the Mourneview men, and it is therefore understandable that they went with a defensive approach to try and frustrate the Blues, similar to how Ballymena succeeded on Tuesday. They were not helped when midfielder Kris Lowe – who was named in the starting eleven – had to pull out through injury before kick-off, to be replaced by Larne loanee Josh Kee.
The Blues aimed for a fast start and carved out a dangerous opening in the first ten minutes as Callumn Morrison showed quick feet on the right to open up space before releasing Matthew Fitzpatrick down the side. The striker then crossed low across the box, but the ball was taken off the toe of intended target Isaac Baird who was denied a goal against his former team. Glenavon then scrambled the ball clear.
Minutes later, Kyle McClean delivered a free-kick from the right after Callumn Morrison had been fouled. The cross was met by Euan East at the back post area, but he directed his header the wrong side of the post.
Then, shortly after, another free-kick from McClean spelled danger. This time it came from the left side and, although it looked like a cross into the corridor of uncertainty, no attacking player managed to get a touch on the end of it, with the ball almost going all the way through into the far corner of the net. It would have done had it not been great for great reflexes from former Manchester United and Portadown goalkeeper Jacob Carney.
In the 20th minute, the Blues knocked on the door once more as Sean Brown’s pinpoint cross from the right was met by Chris McKee whose glancing header flashed wide of the far post by a matter of inches.
The deserved breakthrough then arrived for Linfield in the 25th minute. Fitzpatrick’s innovative backheel was initially cut out by defender Barney McKeown, but the danger was not over as he was swarmed by Matthew Fitzpatrick and Chris McKee on the edge of his own box. McKee managed to get a foot in which saw the ball break loose to the emerging Kyle McClean who wasted little time before putting his laces through the ball and burying a strike from 17 yards.
Sam Taylor tried to double the champions’ lead in the last minute of the first half, cutting inside from the right before seeing a low left-footed shot deflected and then saved by the goalkeeper who showed good handling. It was imperative that he did, because Matthew Fitzpatrick was following in for any scraps.
HT: LINFIELD 1-0 GLENAVON
Linfield’s dominance continued after the break, although the Blues perhaps could have carved out more clear-cut chances given how much possession they were enjoying. There was a need to get a second goal to capitalise on the dominance to prevent things getting edgy.
Kyle McClean went close five minutes into the second half as his corner almost went directly into the net. The visiting goalkeeper was struggling to get it, and was relieved to see the ball come back off the crossbar.
Then, Chris McKee went close twice within a four-minute spell. Firstly, he was picked out by an inch-perfect delivery from Sean Brown out the right, but the forward’s glancing header flashed agonisingly wide of the far post. Soon after, McKee headed over Morrison’s cross to the front post after good play from the Scotsman.
The elusive second goal finally arrived for Linfield after 65 minutes. Euan East brought the ball forward to the edge of Glenavon’s box, slipped it into Matthew Fitzpatrick and he teed it off first-time for Kyle McClean to step onto it and drive a low strike into the net from 15 yards. McClean’s brace gets him up and running for the season and, on another day, he may have walked away with the match ball.
The one concern for David Healy from an otherwise positive afternoon’s work will be an injury picked up by Chris Shields 20 minutes before the end as he appeared to hurt his knee while making a tackle. The Blues’ vice-captain limped off to be replaced by Charlie Allen.
The Blues could have added further to their lead in the closing 20 minutes. Ben Hall was unlucky to see a header deflected just wide of the post after meeting a short corner delivery from Kirk Millar, and later, Kieran Offord robbed a defender of possession to go through on goal, but he pulled his shot wide of the post.
Linfield’s win moves them up to fourth, seven points off leaders Glentoran but with two games in hand over the Glens. Next up for the Blues is a trip to face Bangor at Clandeboye Park in the League next Friday evening.
FT: LINFIELD 2-0 GLENAVON
LINFIELDFC.COM MAN OF THE MATCH: Kyle McClean
LINFIELD: Chris Johns (GK), Sean Brown, Ben Hall, Euan East, Sam Taylor (Kirk Millar 65’), Isaac Baird (Josh Archer 65’), Chris Shields (Charlie Allen 71’), Kyle McClean, Callumn Morrison (Matt Yates 78’), Chris McKee (Kieran Offord 65’), Matthew Fitzpatrick
Unused subs: David Walsh (GK), Sam Roscoe
GLENAVON: Jacob Carney (GK), Jordan McMullan (Bridel Bosakani 81’), Barney McKeown ©, Kyle McClelland, Luke Cartwright, Oran O’Kane, Jack Malone, Josh Kee (Corey Smith 61’), Sean Carlin, Paul McGovern (Stephen Mallon 61’), David McDaid (Michael O’Connor 61’)
Unused subs: Mark Byrne (GK), Harry Murphy
Yellow cards: Jack Malone (Glenavon), Ben Hall (Linfield)