Linfield manager David Healy expressed his dissatisfaction with the scheduling of the Blues' recent match against Crusaders, arguing that it unfairly disadvantages his team ahead of their upcoming Irish Cup clash against Glentoran. Healy criticized the lack of other midweek fixtures and questioned the rationale behind playing only his team's rescheduled game on Tuesday night.
Linfield extended their lead at the top of the Irish Premiership to a commanding 19 points with a 2-1 victory over Crusaders on Tuesday night. Despite the triumph, Blues manager David Healy expressed his discontent over the scheduling of the match, which took place just 72 hours before their crucial Irish Cup sixth-round encounter against Glentoran on Friday. Healy argued that playing the rescheduled fixture on Tuesday was unfair, especially with other clubs possessing outstanding matches.
He highlighted that Glentoran, their upcoming opponents in the cup, were not involved in midweek action, putting his team at a disadvantage. His frustration was compounded by Matthew Fitzpatrick's late dismissal against Crusaders and Sam Roscoe's first-half injury. 'We wished this game to be played next Tuesday, but we were informed by NIFL that everyone needs to catch up on games. However, we are the only game being played tonight,' Healy stated. 'The Glentoran-Larne game was abandoned two weeks ago, and it should have been played tonight for sporting integrity. We were told by NIFL that you only play games on a Tuesday and Friday when the opposition does the same. That isn't the case this week. I can't understand why we were forced to play tonight instead of next week. Now, obviously, we're playing Ballymena in a broadcast game next Friday night, but that wouldn't have mattered to us. The reason why this game against Crusaders was postponed was because we had two players away representing the Northern Ireland Under-21s but you get punished for it. It defeats the purpose from NIFL and the IFA, we'd be better saying we're getting punished with the backlog. I wouldn't have minded if there had been three or four other catch-up games tonight, but I can't understand why we were the only one. Now we've played more games than most, and I don't get the thinking behind it. We played Saturday evening, Tuesday night, and now Friday night, and I said to the players we're basically behind the eight ball now. We've Matthew Fitzpatrick, one of the best number nines in the league, missing for Friday night, and Sam Roscoe is potentially missing, along with other players who are doubtful. We need to use whatever motivation we can on Friday night, as it's going to be a really tough game.' New signing Kieran Offord is poised to make his Linfield debut in Friday's Big Two cup clash after receiving international clearance just in time. Offord replaces the suspended Fitzpatrick, whom Healy criticized referee Declan Hassan for awarding a second yellow card. 'It's disappointing for us and for Matthew as you're losing a key player for Friday night, and we can't even appeal it,' said Healy
LINFIELD CRUSADERS DAVID HEALY IRISH PREMIERSHIP IRISH CUP GLENORAN MATCH SCHEDULING FOOTBALL NORTHERN IRELAND
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