Linfield manager David Healy felt his side “stood firm” in order to bring a single-goal deficit back to Windsor Park for next week’s second leg of their Champions League first qualifying round tie against Shelbourne.
The League of Ireland Premier Division champions got the better of things at Tolka Park courtesy of Mipo Odubeko’s second-half strike.
Coming in with only the Charity Shield final against Dungannon Swifts last week as preparation, and against a side 25 games into their domestic campaign, Healy was pleased with how his side did not allow their hosts to turn plenty of possession into a glut of chances.
While Evan Caffrey twice went close, as did substitute Sean Boyd, the Blues defended resolutely for large periods.
“It was never going to be easy coming down here, they are a very, very good side with talented players,” said Healy.
“It’s disappointing, of course, but in terms of where we are, it’s our first real competitive game. Proud of the effort and the organisation of the players, we stuck together.
“An excitable crowd down here at Tolka Park can sometimes suck the ball into the net and we stood firm and we got ourselves in with a goal deficit.”
Linfield will have the suspended Chris Shields back for next week’s second leg, while Cammy Ballantyne should be available too.
Although Healy felt that Shelbourne play “some of the best football” he has seen in Europe as Linfield manager, he believes his team have “nothing to lose” back at Windsor Park on Wednesday in a game that will be shown live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.
“We’ll be better for the game next week at Windsor,” the former Northern Ireland striker added.
“We’ll empty the tank, we’ve got nothing to fear and nothing to lose.”
