Hi °C | Lo °C David Jeffrey will continue to demand the highest standards from his players as Linfield bid to make up lost ground in the Danske Bank Premiership race.
Nine points behind leaders Cliftonville after four defeats in their opening 10 games, Jeffrey hopes his troops can restore lost pride after warning his under achievers that they must improve.
The Windsor Park boss believes Tuesday night's Irn Bru League Cup win at Coleraine will go some way to lifting the mood.
He admits he did some tough talking to his players after last weekend's embarrassing 3-1 reverse at home by Ballinamallard United.
The post match debrief at Windsor Park was a no-holds barred affair and Jeffrey says he left his players in no doubt that things had to improve.
“They know themselves that there is not the level of consistency we are used to at this club and I simply asked them to dig deep and believe in themselves,” he says. His frank challenge helped produce a positive response at the Showgrounds as Linfield earned a quarter-final place thanks to substitute Michael Carvill's stunning late goal at the end of extra time.
“It was the brilliance of Carvill that won it for us,” he says. “His goal was something special and I think overall we deserved to go through. But what pleased me most was the manner in which my players responded after Saturday.”
Jeffrey was angry at the way Linfield wilted to concede three goals at home against the Mallards.
“I told them that while they had done incredibly well, winning six doubles in seven years — a phenomenal record which will probably never be repeated — they had to retain the hunger for success. I challenged them to ask themselves if they were hurting enough after being beaten.
“I thought they set about their business better against Coleraine, working harder, making themselves difficult to beat and playing football as best they could against a very good team.”
