Linfield manager David Healy says his side “need a little bit more fire in their bellies” after their first ever Boxing Day ‘Big Two’ derby defeat at Windsor Park.
Joe Thomson’s goal secured the three points for the east Belfast side and ended the Blues’ 41-year unbeaten home record on Boxing Day.
Advertisement
The result also means that the defending champions have lost their past two games after going down 2-1 to bottom of the table Glenavon.
“I don’t think there was too much in the game. I think Glentoran, to their credit, were slightly better. We huffed and puffed a little bit,” Healy told BBC Sport NI.
“It is always disappointing to lose a derby, especially coming off the back of a loss last week. It’s important that we responded in some sort of way and we didn’t today.
“I can take as much responsibility as I can and want to do but, when the players cross the line, they need a little bit more fire in their belly and a bit more today and we just couldn’t get that.”
Advertisement
The Blues have won just one of their past four league games and are now 13 points behind league leaders Larne.
Linfield return to action mid-week when they travel to the Coleraine Showgrounds to face Ruaidhri Higgins’ side on Tuesday, with Healy adding that his team will need a “better performance” against the Bannsiders.
“Certainly not ideal. We are miles off it,” Healy continued when asked about their position in the Irish Premiership table.
“We are taking it game by game. We will look at the Coleraine game, try to get a better performance and a better result.
“Coleraine is a difficult place to go. I know there were beaten in their derby so they will look for a response.”
