Irish Premiership: Linfield ready to pounce if Crues slip up

David Healy is Northern Ireland's record goal scorer

Manager David Healy says his second-placed Linfield must keep winning and hope that leaders Crusaders will slip up during the title run-in.

Crusaders' five matches before the split are against teams in the bottom half of the Premiership.

But former international striker Healy believes the heat could turn on the Crues when they face the top teams.

"There are a lot of games to be played and we have to hope they will slip up," said Blues boss Healy.

"They will have to play us, Cliftonville and the rest - they are big games.

"If we win our last seven or eight matches and not win the league, then you have to put your hands up and say Crusaders deserve to be champions.

"We are still in there fighting, but we know it is not going to be easy."

On Saturday, Linfield host fourth-placed Glenavon who will be without top goalscorer Eoin Bradley for seven matches.

Bradley sits out the Windsor Park visit because of a one-match suspension for accumulating five yellow cards this season.

The Derry GAA player then has to serve a six-match suspension imposed for head-butting Crusaders skipper Colin Coates in a recent league match.