David Healy’s pride in ‘outstanding’ Linfield

Andy Waterworth broke the deadlock around the half-hour mark of the 2-0 win as Niall Quinn proved alert to capitalise on the Bannsiders’ defensive woes and pick out his on-song striker.

Waterworth added to his tally for the campaign with a composed finish - with the same combination left frustrated when another goal was ruled out for offside ahead of the interval.

Linfield managed to double the tally when Jordan Stewart showed strength and skill to steer a low shot beyond Gareth Deane as the Blues extended the season’s perfect start to five league fixtures.

“Days like this, performances like this, results like this...they make me proud as a manager to manage a group that can come and perform and give their maximum,” Healy told the official Linfield website. “There are going to be a lot of games and we might not be at the level of today but if they give me that honesty and hard work it should benefit the team.

“I thought we were outstanding from one to 11, with huge energy all over the pitch.

“Coming in at 1-0, we were so dominant in the first half and could have had one or two other opportunities.

“We were so on the frontfoot but you’re always wary and think ‘we’ve been here before’ with leads at half-time, playing in front of a strong home crowd trying to suck the ball into the back of the net in the second half or maybe a decision going against you.

“But pleased with the outcome and pleased with the performance and we are back down the road with what we came for - the three points.

“The first goal was huge - Andy again, a lot of time he doesn’t get the plaudits or credit sometimes he deserves.

“It was a situation where it could have quite easily been a miskick or it slid off him but he cushioned it in.

“It’s something we’ve talked about for ages with Andy - the need to adapt and be in and around and it was a huge goal.

“For Jordan, Mark Haughey lifted it in behind, he nipped in and showed composure to score a crucial goal for us in the second half.

“I thought Jordan’s performance was outstanding, like the rest of the players, to get through a very testing fixture.”

Healy also singled out the midfield pairing of Stephen Fallon and Kyle McClean for special praise in success at The Showgrounds.

“We are going to have some of the older players who have been here, seen it and done it sometimes missing and when that’s the case it’s important we’ve ready-made replacements,” said Healy. “Kyle and Stephen were excellent, with quality and energy...picking up loose balls and second balls.

“It’s important you do have people who can slot it quite easily, can play and, more importantly, give a performance like today.

“When you play the personnel Coleraine have and the likes of Eoin Bradley, he is going to cause you problems.

“Every game that you see when Coleraine play well the majority of times Bradley’s at the fore, so credit to the centre-backs and full-backs.

“All-round today we looked strong and honest.”

Coleraine: Deane, Kane, Douglas, Jarvis (Parkhill, 65), Doherty, Lowry, Bradley (Wilson, 76), Carson, O’Donnell, Glackin, Nixon (Allen, 57).

Subs (not used): Gallagher, Traynor.

Linfield: Johns, Haughey, Callacher, Waterworth (Manzinga, 92), Stewart, Millar, Clarke, McClean, Fallon (McGivern, 84), Pepper, Quinn.

Subs (not used): Walsh, Shevlin, Nasseri, Kearns, Doyle.

Referee: Tony Clarke

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