Stephen Fallon off the mark but turns focus to Linfield team gains going into derby day

The midfielder kicked off his scoring for the season on Saturday at Windsor Park in a 2-0 success over Glenavon.

Now Glentoran arrive at the same venue for the next chapter of the Irish League’s high-profile derby story in a clash Fallon counts, more than ever, irrelevant in terms of league standings.

Fallon’s Linfield are sitting pretty with a maximum return from the six league tests to date - with Glentoran propping up the division still searching for a win after four Premiership appearances.

“The next one is a derby and they don’t come more important than that,” said Fallon. “We will go into the game with confidence.

“We may be at the top of the table and Glentoran at the bottom but that will mean nothing.

“It will be a tough game, they are a good side.

“With the amount of good players they have signed, it will turn around for them at some stage - but we have to make sure it’s not against us.

“All we can do is keep looking after ourselves and not worry about anyone else.

“We then have Warrenpoint Town away from home on Saturday, so it will be a big week.

“We don’t mind the Tuesday-Saturday games, we have a big squad to deal with it.

“I was delighted to get my first goal of the season on Saturday.

“It was a great ball in from ‘Nav’ (Navid Nasseri) and I was happy to stick it away.

“I noticed the keeper had come off his line, so decided to loop it over him.

“Shayne Lavery’s goal came at the right time for us (to make it 2-0), Glenavon were really stubborn and growing in confidence.

“The longer it remained 1-0, they were still in the game and it made it more difficult for us.

“It was a good goal at a good time.”

Fallon, now in a fifth season at Linfield, is putting his faith in the long-term approach by the defending league champions.

“Glenavon made it tough for us, we expected that because they have a lot of experience in their team,” said Fallon. “They will cause other teams problems, so it was a good three points for us.

“I try to keep my head down and work hard, there is a lot of competition for places in the middle of the park.

“Kyle (McClean) has come in this season, we’ve Jamie (Mulgrew), Bastian (Hery)...so getting a place in the team is difficult, but I suppose that makes it better because I am constantly pushing to be better than they are.

“Competition is good and it helps us push each other on and we just focus on the next game in this league.

“We’ve been back a long time when you consider our European games back in August.

“All we can do is keep ticking off the games, there are so many good teams in the league.

“The likes of Coleraine, Larne, Crusaders, Cliftonville and Glentoran will all be jockeying for places at the top of the table come the end of the season.”

Tonight’s Danske Bank Premiership programme will also feature a trip to Solitude against Cliftonville for Ballymena United.

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