Linfield made it two wins from two in the Sports Direct Premiership with a 1-0 win over Cliftonville at Windsor Park this afternoon courtesy of Kieran Offord’s first-half strike.
It was a pleasing three points for the Blues, particularly given the exertions of Thursday night’s match against Shelbourne where they played 72 minutes with ten men. With today’s League match coming in between the two-legged UEFA Conference League play-off against Shelbourne, the Blues could have postponed against Cliftonville but instead wished to play the match to avoid a situation where they are far behind their competitors in terms of matches played.
David Healy made three changes to the Linfield team which lost 3-1 in Dublin on Thursday with Scot Whiteside, Sean Brown and Charlie Allen coming into the starting eleven in place of Ben Hall, Euan East and Kirk Millar. Jamie Mulgrew dropped out of the squad due to injury.
Cliftonville were coming into the match in tenth position with two points from their opening three fixtures. The Reds lost away to Bangor on the opening weekend before home draws against Coleraine (0-0) and Larne (1-1). Wing-back Micheal Glynn was sent off in the draw against Larne on Tuesday, so he missed out through suspension, while summer signing Rhyss Campbell was ruled out through an ACL injury which is expected to keep him out long-term. Left-back Luke Conlan was also missing due to a groin injury.
With both teams playing similar 3-5-2 systems, the match started with a great intensity. The Blues only took 40 seconds before threatening the Cliftonville goal as McClean’s deep cross was headed back across by Sean Brown for the incoming Charlie Allen who pulled a volley wide of the post. Cliftonville then went up the other end and earned a corner out of their first attack, but the Blues managed to get it cleared.
Kieran Offord was then unlucky not to put the Blues ahead in the fourth minute when his low strike was cleared off the line by the alert Odhran Casey. Linfield defender Sam Roscoe went following in on the slide and was a split second off getting a touch that surely would have resulted in a goal, but he couldn’t quite get there ahead of Casey.
Charlie Allen was also unlucky a couple of minutes later. In what was a familiar combination in the early stages, Sean Brown found his opposite winger at the back post area. Allen then cut inside onto his stronger right foot before his shot was deflected just over the crossbar.
Cliftonville carved out an opportunity of their own in the 14th minute as Rory Hale’s deep corner delivery to the back post was headed down by Odhran Casey for Shea Gordon who connected well on a volley which went marginally over the bar after a deflection off the head of teammate Ryan Curran.
The breakthrough goal – which would prove to be the winner – arrived after 27 minutes courtesy on in-form Linfield striker Kieran Offord. The Scotsman had an initial 20-yard strike blocked before he outmuscled Rory Hale to unleashed a second effort into the corner. It was a brilliant strike and from a very similar position to the one from which he scored against Zalgiris and Vikingur in Europe. Offord’s goal was his seventh of the season; the 21-year-old has hit the ground running.
The Blues were unlucky not to double their lead just three minutes later on the half-hour mark. Kieran Offord was clipped 25 yards from the Cliftonville goal and Kyle McClean had a pop at goal from the free-kick. It was a brilliant effort from the midfielder, and an equally good save from Reds’ goalkeeper Morrison to tip the effort onto the post.
Linfield were knocking on the door for a second goal, going close again shortly after as Kyle McClean’s corner was met and glanced on by Sam Roscoe at the front post and received by Kieran Offord who fired into the side netting at the back post area. It would have been a repeat of the goal which the Blues scored against Shelbourne three days prior.
Offord threatened again once more before the break. The Blues cut Cliftonville open on the break with McClean at the heart of it, but once the midfielder slipped in Offord, the Scotsman pulled his strike wide of the far post.
Against the run of play, Cliftonville had a dangerous attack with the last action of the first half as a neat pass from Casey slid Sunderland loanee Thomas Lavery in behind Charlie Allen before his shot from inside the box was well saved by Chris Johns.
HT: LINFIELD 1-0 CLIFTONVILLE
It was a strong first half display from the Blues and, on the balance on play, they’d surely have been disappointed not to have been at least a couple up at the break.
The second half was a low-key affair. The Blues didn’t create much, but equally, neither did Cliftonville and Chris Johns wasn’t really worked in the Linfield goal.
The closest the Reds came to equalising was shortly after the hour-mark when Conor Barr made good progress down the right before flashing a low cross across the front post, with midfielder Rory Hale storming in to meet it, but he couldn’t quite get there and Johns grasped the ball.
Later, Odhran Casey had a chance to equalise when he met Rory Hale’s free-kick delivery from the right, but the Cliftonville defender headed it wide of the post.
The Blues had a decent opportunity with 20 minutes remaining as sub Dane McCullough teed off a 20-yard free-kick to Kyle McClean who fired over the crossbar.
Cliftonville emptied their bench with attacking intent but were unable to carve the Blues open. Roscoe and Whiteside both put in solid displays at the back for Linfield. And while the Reds took more risks, it opened up more for the Blues on the break, although they were unable to take advantage of that.
The second half may not live long in the memory, but it was a more comfortable win for Linfield than the scoreline suggests to make it two wins from two. There didn’t appear to be any injuries picked up which is also a positive.
All focus now turns to Shelbourne as the Blues attempt to overturn a two-goal deficit at Windsor Park this coming Thursday for a place in the league phase of the UEFA Conference League.
FT: LINFIELD 1-0 CLIFTONVILLE
Linfieldfc.com Man of the Match: Kyle McClean
LINFIELD: Chris Johns (GK), Ethan McGee, Scot Whiteside, Sam Roscoe, Sean Brown (Kirk Millar 80’), Chris Shields ©, Kyle McClean, Josh Archer (Chris McKee 64’), Charlie Allen (Dane McCullough 64’), Kieran Offord (Callumn Morrison 80’), Matthew Fitzpatrick
Subs (unused): David Walsh (GK), Sam Taylor, Matt Yates
CLIFTONVILLE: Peter Morrison (GK), Thomas Lavery (Adebayo Fapetu 61’), Odhran Casey, Jack Keaney, Shaun Leppard (Jonathan Addis 74’), Conor Barr, Shea Gordon, Harry Wilson Darien Ruei Wauchope 61’), Rory Hale ©, Eric McWoods (Conor Falls 74’), Ryan Curran (Joe Gormley 61’)
Subs (unused): Lewis Ridd (GK), Conor Pepper
Referee: Jamie Robinson
Yellow cards: Kieran Offord, Dane McCullough & Callumn Morrison (Linfield), Harry Wilson & Odhran Casey (Cliftonville)