Healy questions Linfield's fixture schedule

Linfield boss David Healy admitted he was "surprised" that Linfield and Crusaders were the only Irish Premiership clubs in action on Tuesday night.

The Blues moved 19 points clear at the top of the Irish Premiership table as goals from Joel Cooper and Chris McKee saw them to a 2-1 win over Declan Caddell's side at Windsor Park.

Healy's players were back in action a little over 72 hours after beating Cliftonville by the same score on Saturday evening and will face another quick turnaround before taking on Glentoran at the Oval in the sixth round of the Irish Cup on Friday night.

With the impact of Storm Darragh last year, other weather-related postponements since, and Glentoran's game with Larne on 18 January being abandoned due to floodlight failure in the second half, Healy expected Linfield's rivals to also be in action.

"I'm surprised that we were the only team on tonight, to be honest," he said.

"We requested right at the start, before the Irish Cup draw, [to play Crusaders] next Tuesday.

"But we were forced and told that this game had to be played this week because everybody has to catch up games.

"Then I see some of the other teams who had games cancelled through the storm we had a little while ago, people's generators not working, yet there's no other games in our league tonight."

Despite the fixture congestion, Healy was pleased with his side's performance in victory, even if he felt they could have made the game safe in the second half.

"Pleased with the three points and the outcome," he added.

"We found Crusaders difficult to break down but I think we had enough opportunities in the second-half to go and get a third or fourth.

"We probably let that slip."