EUROPA LEAGUE: NO IFS AS LINFIELD MARCH ON WITH 3-0 HOME WIN

 

UP FOR THE EUROPA CUP: Linfield manager David Jeffrey gets his team back on winning ways

UP FOR THE EUROPA CUP: Linfield manager David Jeffrey gets his team back on winning ways

IT is not that long ago some fans were calling for the head of Linfield boss David Jeffrey after one of their poorest season’s under his management.

‘Davy Out’ was the cry aS December 2012 turned to January 2013 and the Blues struggled with form and Cliftonville were running away with the Danske Bank Irish Premier League.

But now some of those same fans who wanted ‘Big Davy’ sacked are glad the Linfield board decided to stick with him and allow him to rebuild his team.

And it worked.

The Blues cruised into the Europa League second-round qualifiers after this Windsor Park victory gave the Blues a 5-0 aggregate win over IF Fuglafjordur.

Michael Gault headed the hosts ahead just before the break before second-half strikes from Jamie Mulgrew and Philip Lowry secured a comfortable win.

It is the first time that the Belfast club have won both home and away ties in European competition.

Linfield’s reward is a qualifier against Greek side Skoda Xanthi.

David Jeffrey’s side went into the game firmly in command after a 2-0 win in last week’s first leg in the Faroe Islands.

Linfield went close after just two minutes with Peter Thompson heading over from a Michael Carvill cross.

Aaron Burns also sent a header over before the Irish League side took the lead five minutes before half-time.

Gault made a crucial block to deny Hogni Madsen, with the Blues springing forward and winning a free-kick.

The defender moved upfield and his flicked header from Knowles’ delivery flew over keeper Jakup Mikkelsen and into the net.

Fuglafjordur enjoyed plenty of possession but failed to seriously test Linfield keeper Jonathan Tuffey.

Mulgrew made it 2-0 when he latched on to a Thompson throughball before slotting past Mikkelsen and into the bottom corner.

Lowry sealed Linfield’s progress on the hour mark with the midfielder’s shot clipping Mikkelsen and hitting the roof of the net.

 

Share |


Comments are closed.

BD Top 5
FacebookTwitter
BD TV
Email Us