Larne boss Tiernan Lynch says that his side "need to start winning again" as they prepare to face title rivals Linfield at Windsor Park on Saturday. The Invermen made a belated start to their Irish Premiership defence due to their European involvement. They drew with Coleraine before losing to Ballymena, leaving them 12 points behind the Blues, who are unbeaten in their five league outings.

Although they have three games in hand, Lynch stressed the importance of developing a habit of winning, particularly against a Linfield side that have started the season well. "Winning can be contagious, we know that, so we need to start winning again very quickly to get back on that horse," he said. "Linfield are flying at the moment, they’re in a really good place and they’re up there now to be shot at so we’ve to go there [Windsor Park] and try get something."

Larne have had a week to mull over their 1-0 defeat by Ballymena - a rare luxury with their domestic and European commitments which will see them play at least twice a week until the end of December. Lynch hopes the extra time on the training pitch this week can help Larne pick up their first league victory of the season at Windsor Park.

"When we have bad performances, we don’t shy away from them, we face them head on and use them try to motivate what’s ahead of us," he explained. "It’s been good to get back on the pitch and get a four-day lead in hopefully that will stand by us on Saturday."

The 44-year-old is also trying to bring a number of new signings up to speed to ensure he has the squad to challenge on both domestic and European fronts. "We're trying to incorporate new players into our team and it’s taking them a bit of time to get up to speed with what we do so we have to be patient with that," Lynch added. "We're hoping with a number of games under our belt and when we get players playing, they’ll catch up quickly."

Whilst Lynch admits that the demanding schedule will test his team's limits, he hopes they can adapt quickly and relish having so many games in a short space of time. "We worked it out, we have a game every 3.6 days between now and the 30 December so there’s challenges there that we haven’t had to face before," he continued. "We’re normally a team that works off a four-day lead up to the game with a set training schedule but now we’ve had to rip it up and start again. This was the challenge we wanted and we want to embrace it, but it will probably take time to really get our heads round it."

The Need to Win

Larne's European campaign may have earned them recognition on the continent, but the focus now shifts back to domestic affairs. Lynch is acutely aware of the need for his team to find their winning groove again, especially with Linfield looming large on the horizon. The Blues, unbeaten in their opening five league matches, are currently 12 points ahead of Larne, although the Invermen do have three games in hand.

However, Lynch isn't using Europe as an excuse for their slow start. "I certainly wouldn't make excuses about playing in Europe, that's had nothing to do with it," he said. "It wasn't good enough on the day, that's it. We let ourselves down, we aren't going to make any excuses for it as we didn't do enough to win the game."

A Look Back at the Ballymena Defeat

Lynch admitted that Ballymena's game plan proved effective, frustrating Larne's attacking efforts. "I thought we were probably the better team on the day but credit to Ballymena as they had a game plan which was spot on. They stayed in the game, broke the game up, made it difficult for us to see if they could get a sucker-punch - which they did."

He also pointed out the need for his team to stay composed and maintain their focus. "We probably fell right into their trap. We let ourselves get frustrated when we should have stayed calm and got back on the ball again. We played too much in front of them and we tried to work it left and right but we never got behind them enough. We never created enough, we probably lacked enough penetration today and we are hugely disappointed."

Lynch's message to his players is clear: "They're the ones who take the pitch and set the standards. Last week wasn't at their standard or level and they were disappointed with that. Now it's about dusting ourselves down and going and putting it right. You've got to play all the teams in this league. To win games like this we need more so we've got to go again."

Looking Ahead: The Linfield Clash

The encounter against Linfield promises to be a fierce encounter. The Blues have been a formidable force, with Healy's men eager to reclaim the Gibson Cup, having lost it to Larne in the past two seasons. Lynch and his players will need to be at their best to overcome this challenge and begin their climb back up the table. The pressure is on for Larne to turn their season around, and the game against Linfield presents a vital opportunity to do just that.

A Test of Mettle

The upcoming match against Linfield will be a true test of Larne's character and determination. Lynch and his players are determined to put things right and prove their mettle against one of the league's strongest sides. This game has the potential to be a turning point in their season, and a strong performance could inject much-needed confidence into the team.

The Importance of Maintaining a Strong European Presence

Despite their domestic struggles, Larne's European campaign has been a resounding success. They became the first Irish League side to reach the group stage of a major European competition, a feat that garnered attention and admiration both domestically and internationally. While the focus may be on regaining their domestic form, Lynch and his players are acutely aware of the importance of maintaining their presence on the European stage. It's a balancing act that requires careful planning, a strong squad depth, and a relentless pursuit of excellence in both domestic and international competitions.

The upcoming match against Linfield will serve as a crucial test. A positive result against their rivals would not only boost confidence but also provide a platform for Larne to rebuild momentum and challenge for a third consecutive league title. It's a season of challenges and opportunities for the Invermen, and how they navigate these complexities will determine the trajectory of their campaign.