Linfield manager David Healy was full of praise for his side’s performance after they secured a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Crusaders at Seaview, admitting he was frustrated not to have put the game to bed earlier.

The Blues dominated the opening 45 minutes but went into the break with only a single goal to show for their efforts.

“I’ll never know how it was only 1–0 at half-time,” Healy said. “We missed chance after chance. Our performance levels in the first 45 minutes were very good and we played in the correct way in tough conditions.”

Healy warned his players at the interval about the danger of failing to score again, especially with Crusaders having the wind advantage in the second half.

“If there’s a next goal it becomes a different game,” he explained. “Momentum can switch. I’ve been down here many times where you can be on the back foot for the last 15 or 20 minutes.”

Despite late pressure from the hosts, Linfield held firm, with Healy praising his defence and goalkeeper Chris Johns.

“I get nervous from the first minute,” he admitted. “When you’re so dominant, one mistake, a decision, a deflection or a set play can change everything. But the back four defended what they had to do and Chris Johns had another really steady game.”

Healy also highlighted the need for greater ruthlessness in front of goal, suggesting it has cost Linfield points earlier in the season.

“Going forward, it’s about being more decisive and more clinical. That’s probably why we’ve lost quite a few games this year – we can’t afford to let teams off. Thankfully, we didn’t today.”

The win was particularly significant given Linfield’s inconsistent away form this campaign.

“There’s been a lot made about our away form and rightly so,” Healy said. “When I look at the league table and the points difference, our away form has let us down. It’s something we talk about all the time and something we need to improve.”

Attention now turns to Tuesday night’s League Cup semi-final, with Healy viewing the competition as another major opportunity for his squad.

“We’ve had some brilliant finals in the League Cup over the last few years and it’s a competition we’ve enjoyed,” he added. “It’ll be a tough game. They’ll be looking for that new manager bounce, but it’s another chance for our players and one we’re looking forward to.”

Linfield’s narrow victory keeps their momentum going on the road and provides a timely boost ahead of their midweek cup showdown.