Linfield out to prove they aren't 'flat-track bullies' in Irish Cup clash with Larne

​Much has been made of Linfield’s record against fellow top-six teams this season with David Healy’s men picking up just two wins in 11 league games against their closest competition.

They’ve dominated in games against teams sitting in the other half of the table, putting six past both Glenavon and Portadown in recent weeks.

In what is a repeat of the County Antrim Shield final which Larne won on penalties, all eyes will be on Inver Park this afternoon and Oliver believes this is a prime opportunity to start setting the record straight.

"One of the things people have to realise is that we're all human beings - we aren't robots,” he said. "We will have bad days and days where we struggle to find a bit of form.

"It's something we have spoke about in the changing room to the players and we don't want to become flat-track bullies.

"We know our record against the top six teams isn't good - we don't need people to tell us that.

"We need to improve on it and Saturday gives us a chance to play against a big team and hopefully start improving on those results."

Eetu Vertainen could be key to their hopes, with the Finnish forward netting hat-tricks in each of their last two weekend games.

Only Coleraine’s Matthew Shevlin has scored more in the Danske Bank Premiership this season and Oliver is hoping the 23-year-old can translate his league form into cup goals.

"Eetu is frustrating at times, but when he's on that sort of form he's hard to stop,” he added. "The frustrating thing for us as a staff is that we know there's more in him.

"He's maybe starting to find a bit of form at the right time for us. We need to keep pushing and hopefully Eetu and the rest of the players will stand up to the challenges ahead."

Oliver has won this competition twice as Healy’s assistant, alongside five league crowns, but says they aren’t resting on their laurels.

"We've done a lot but it's never enough and that's the reality of being at a big club like Linfield,” he said.