Linfield put in their best performance of the season so far, sweeping Coleraine aside in a thoroughly deserved 3-0 victory at The Showgrounds this afternoon as the Blues remain two points clear at the top of the table.
David Healy’s men found the ruthless edge they’ve been searching for, for several weeks, going three goals up before half-time. Coming off the back of last week’s 1-0 win over Carrick Rangers – a game in which Kirk Millar saved the day with a 97th minute winner – the Blues’ team featured one change as Kyle McClean returned from a minor injury to replace the injured Chris McKee, in a changed shape of 4-2-3-1.
The Blues will have known an improved performance was required at a notoriously tough away venue this afternoon and they certainly stood up to the challenge. Healy’s men were positive from the off, having an opportunity inside 40 seconds as Joel Cooper fed off Fitzpatrick’s flick-on. The winger had time to shoot from the edge of the box but didn’t connect as sweetly as he’d desired, leading to a comfortable enough save.
Further early opportunities came the way of Euan East and Ethan McGee – both from crosses delivered by Kirk Millar – but East’s header flashed wide, whilst McGee mistimed his effort which lacked conviction and didn’t trouble the ‘keeper.
Coleraine went close in the 11th minute against the run of play as left-back Dean Jarvis’ cross-come-shot from the left flashed just wide of the far post with striker Matthew Shevlin not far off getting in on the end of it.
The Blues then took a deserved lead in the 19th minute. Selfless striker Matthew Fitzpatrick ran the channel to latch onto a through ball from Kirk Millar before pulling the ball across the box for Joel Cooper to run in and lash the ball clinically into the roof of the net for his sixth goal of the season.
With the uplift in confidence from the first goal, Linfield continued to push for goals and were unfortunate not to net again within two minutes of the opener as Fitzpatrick challenging the goalkeeper for a cross led to the ball falling at the feet of Charlie Allen whose goalbound effort was somehow blocked on the line.
However, the Blues didn’t have to wait much longer for a second goal as they doubled their lead in the 25th minute – just six minutes after the opening goal. Fresh from his last-gasp winner and Man of the Match display against Carrick Rangers last week, Kirk Millar struck again – this time directly from a corner kick. Coleraine goalkeeper Rory Brown will be disappointed that he couldn’t keep it out, however Millar will take it as he claimed his third goal of the season.
Of course, for all Linfield’s dominance, at 2-0 it potentially only needed a Coleraine goal to change the pattern of the match, and that was almost the case as the Bannsiders went very close to pulling a goal back on 39 minutes as Dean Jarvis’ free-kick from the right was headed against the post by Matthew Shevlin. Only for a top-class goal-saving challenge from Matthew Fitzpatrick, Shevlin would have scored the rebound. This was a big moment in the match, particularly given the Blues added a third goal just two minutes later.
Kirk Millar was once again at the heart of it as Linfield added a third goal four minutes before the break. The winger crossed from the right and it was helped on by Charlie Allen to Kyle McClean who was rewarded for a lung-busting run as he followed in to fire in from close range for his second goal of the season.
It could even have been four before half-time as McClean found himself with time and space on the left side of the Coleraine box. The midfielder drove a low cross in, and a great challenge on the line prevented Ethan McGee from turning it from a yard out.
HT: Coleraine 0-3 Linfield
With the Blues firmly in command, the second half was another comfortable affair in which they had further opportunities to record an even bigger margin of victory, but were unable to make the most of.
Three goals ahead, David Healy was not going to take any unnecessary risks, and so he withdrew striker Matthew Fitzpatrick five minutes into the second half as he was carrying a niggly injury. The striker was replaced by Josh Archer, with Joel Cooper playing up front on his own.
Cooper continued to look dangerous. He almost finished off a neat Linfield move, receiving the ball on the edge of the Coleraine box before shifting the ball onto his stronger left foot and seeing his low strike well saved by ‘keeper Brown who beat the effort away.
Coleraine almost pulled a goal back against the run of play on 62 minutes following a very fortuitous break of the ball which put Jamie Glackin in on goal, but Chris Johns made a good block to keep the shot out. A short time later, Dean Shiels’ team had a penalty appeal for handball waved away by well-positioned referee Jamie Robinson.
Cooper was unlucky on two separate occasions in the final third of the match. Firstly, he met Euan East’s cross from the left with a looping header which was a great effort matched by the save by Rory Brown to claw it out. Later, Cooper bulldozed his way through to get a shot off at close range and it hit the ‘keeper before deflecting just wide of the far post.
With the Blues cruising towards victory, David Healy introduced young players Kalum Thompson, Matthew Orr, Cammy Ballantyne and Rhys Annett in the final ten minutes. Perhaps some of the aforementioned players will get further minutes on Tuesday as the Blues turn their focus to a trip to Dundela in League Cup action – a competition Linfield have won in the previous two seasons.
FT: Coleraine 0-3 Linfield