Set-pieces in the spotlight for Linfield visit to Portadown

Each club finished the 2019/20 campaign crowned champions, with Linfield managing to maintain that momentum and hold top spot in the current Premiership standings with a perfect start.

The Ports’ return to the Irish League main stage thanks to promotion as Championship winners has offered the expected adjustment period across a return of win, defeat and draw before playing host to Linfield.

And Portadown manager Matthew Tipton is keen to turn back to one of his team’s traditional strengths - and a source of goals familiar to Linfield - in search of fresh gains.

“Linfield’s scoring strength from set-pieces has been so important and so consistent under David Healy,” said Tipton. “But we can draw confidence from our own strong track record last season in the Championship from set-pieces.

“It is an area we’ve especially looked at since coming up and playing the first three Premiership games.

“We have conceded a lot of corner-kicks and free-kicks, particularly in the games with Glenavon and Warrenpoint Town, so must be aware of the obvious dangers in giving a club with Linfield’s ability any extra opportunities.

“But, also, we’ve not managed to win that many corner-kicks and when looking at such small margins that is another area we want to improve.

“However, our goals-to-shots ratio has been really encouraging, scoring five times in the league off something like nine attempts.

“It’s about balance as no team can be perfect at everything and obviously I’m delighted to see the goals going in from open play but also know how much of a threat we can pose from set-pieces.

“I think the number of corner-kicks conceded so far is not so much about being under lots and lots of pressure in games but more how we have been defending.

“Our work in open play has been strong overall, even in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Warrenpoint when we conceded off a few mistakes but looked solid in general.

“One aspect we do want to tighten up on is our decision-making in certain areas and at times the players this season have maybe rushed things and kicked the ball out for a corner-kick, rather than taking that extra split-second and clearing it further up.

“But it comes down to reacting to moments of course and it’s our job as a coaching team to analyse and iron out those small areas but, overall, I can only praise the players for how they’ve adjusted.”

Healy has highlighted the value of a maximum return to date by his defending champions, telling the official club website how “it’s important we got off to a good start with the level of competition that’s going to be put up against us this year.”