Matthew Clarke believes Linfield can write themselves into the file books once they entertain RFS in a winner-takes-all Europa Convention League Play-Off second leg showdown at Windsor Park on Thursday.
David Healy’s boys are inside touching distance of attaining their very own little piece of historical past by changing into the primary Irish League aspect to achieve the group phases of any European match — which might earn the membership an estimated £3m monetary jackpot.
The Blues turned in an heroic show on the Skonto Stadium, however left pissed off — though that they had battled out a 2-2 draw.
“With the standard we've within the squad, we're greater than able to giving it the final push to get into the group phases,” mentioned Clarke.
“However being two objectives up and, having performed so nicely, to concede on 89 minutes and once more on 96 was very irritating. What we did be taught is that we've nothing to worry after we deliver them again to Windsor Park.”
It was the truth that David Healy’s boys surrendered a two-goal lead within the final two minutes of the sport that made issues tough to abdomen. Objectives from Stephen Fallon and Joel Cooper had the Danske Financial institution Premiership aspect on cloud 9.
However RFS substitute Kevin Friesenbichler pulled one again on 88 minutes and, with virtually the final kick on 96 minutes, Ziga Lipiscek broke the hearts of the battling guests.
Clarke believes what occurred within the dying embers of the sport will make the Blues much more decided to complete the job.
“It was a great consequence, however the journey dwelling seemed to be that bit longer due to the way in which issues occurred on the end,” added the Castlederg man, who skippered the workforce within the absence of Jamie Mulgrew. “The late objectives took the gloss off the efficiency.
“We have been in charge of the sport for 88 minutes so it was so irritating to concede two late objectives. If we had been supplied a draw earlier than the sport, in such an essential tie away from dwelling, we definitely would have taken it.”
Clarke insists RFS obtained out of jail, particularly when Azerbaijan referee Aliyar Aghayev awarded them a corner-kick which led to their opening aim.
He added: “The referee’s determination went towards us. It was by no means in 1,000,000 years a corner-kick. Everybody clearly noticed their man heading the ball out.
“We really couldn’t consider he pointed to the nook flag. That’s soccer. It's what it's.
“Up till that time, the gaffer obtained the techniques spot on. We have been compact and had a good condition about us and we hit them on the break. That they had a few half probabilities, however they didn’t actually hassle us that a lot.
“I assumed we have been fairly comfy. Each one of many boys labored their socks off within the recreation that was performed in horrendous warmth — it was one thing like 29 levels, though it was 8pm over there at kick-off time.
“Honest play to the boys, they dug in and put in an enormous shift. “
Former Rangers defender Clarke reckons, with an enormous Windsor Park crowd behind the workforce, the Blues can obtain their aim of reaching the group phases.
“We're greater than able to one huge final push to hopefully make historical past for the membership,” he went on. “We've got nothing to worry, we should be courageous and be prepared for the problem. It’s a fantastic alternative for this group of gamers to write down their very own little piece of historical past.
“We want the gang to get proper behind the workforce. It may put a little bit of worry into the Latvians as a result of they aren't used to huge crowds. Their stadium solely holds about 1,000 folks, which is why we needed to play Riga FC Stadium.
“It will even be an enormous increase not solely to the membership, however to the Irish League typically, it could put Northern Eire on the map. It will be an unbelievable achievement if we have been to change into the primary Irish League workforce to achieve the group phases.
“Our League has come on leaps and bounds over the past six or seven years. I’ve been dwelling (from Rangers) 9 years now, and it has improved yr on yr.
“Typically our League will get a variety of unfair criticism, principally from individuals who don’t even watch it, so it could be good to place the membership and the League on the map.”