David Healy has dismissed the early-season negativity around Linfield after his team secured a fifth straight league win to climb into second place. Kyle McClean's late strike sealed a 1-0 victory at Dungannon Swifts on Thursday, moving the Blues to within a point of leaders Coleraine.
The result continues a remarkable turnaround from a 3-0 home defeat to Ballymena United on the opening day. Healy's men have since taken 15 points from a possible 15, a run that includes a derby win over Glentoran. The manager acknowledged the initial criticism but pointed to the response.
"It's important we win games at Linfield and nobody knows that better than I do - I'm always first to take responsibility when we don't," Healy said. Midfielder McClean, who scored the 82nd-minute winner at Stangmore Park, echoed that sentiment. "There was a lot of noise after the first game of the season and understandably so," he said.
Squad strength
Healy highlighted the character within a streamlined squad, which operates with fewer players than in previous campaigns. That resilience was on show again as Linfield ground out another three points on the road. The team's recent form now reads four wins and a draw from their last five outings, placing them firmly in the title conversation.
With 16 points from seven games, Linfield sit just three points off the top. The immediate focus shifts to Saturday's home fixture against fifth-placed Crusaders, a key test in this promising run. The full schedule is available on our fixtures page.
McClean's decisive contribution against Dungannon was his second goal in as many games, having also scored in the 1-1 draw with Portadown last weekend. That consistency in midfield is proving vital for a team building serious momentum. The squad's current depth and form can be reviewed in our squad section.
Background and full detail: bbc.com
