The Blues manager was far from satisfied with his own team

David Healy warned the Irish Premiership is in “serious, serious trouble” after blasting the decision to send off Ethan McGee during Linfield’s 1-1 draw with Dungannon Swifts.

The Blues boss was furious after referee Evan Boyce showed McGee a second yellow card for an incident near the halfway line in the 77th minute at Windsor Park.

Healy argued some referees would not even have awarded a free kick.

“I thought it was a horrendous call,” he said. “It’s not a tackle. It’s not a lunge. It’s basically a coming together.

“If that’s the level where a second yellow card’s going to be handed out, this league is in serious, serious trouble.

“I’ve seen it from one or two different angles, and it doesn’t get any better.”

McGee’s dismissal came after Steven Scott had cancelled out Matthew Fitzpatrick’s first-half opener, leaving Linfield to negotiate the closing stages with 10 men.

“It’s not a promising attack because he’s on the halfway line,” said Healy.

“I was surprised at the foul, and I was shocked, I was shocked with the second yellow card.”

But the Linfield manager was far from satisfied with his own team, despite a draw which extended their unbeaten league run to 13 matches.

“Disappointed with the level of performance,” he said.

“We took the lead and we found a way to squander a lead, which is disappointing.

“There were periods in the game where we looked a little bit not as tight-knit. The connectivity probably wasn’t there, in and out of possession.”

The Blues also came under pressure in the closing stages, although Healy suggested their resilience had improved significantly since last season.

“It was definitely a game we would have found a way to lose last year,” he said.

The manager nevertheless intends to scrutinise his own contribution to a frustrating afternoon, stating: “I’ll assess my own decision-making.”

Next up is a showdown with Coleraine, and Healy knows his side will have to produce a more cohesive performance.

“It’s going to be intense,” he said.

“They’re the type of games that you should quite easily be excited for if you’re a player.”