Glenn Ferguson believes Linfield paid the price for a hectic schedule as they exited the Irish Cup on Friday night. The Blues fell to a late 2-1 defeat at the Oval after being taken to extra-time by Glentoran.

Chris McKee had cancelled out Jordan Jenkins' opener, with Finley Thorndike bagging a superb winner to send the Glens into the quarter-final draw.

Linfield ended the game with nine men after Joel Cooper and Chris Shields were both sent off, while Ben Hall and Kirk Millar had to come off with injuries.

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It leaves Blues boss David Healy with a potential selection headache ahead of their next Premiership game against Ballymena United.

Healy spoke out about his side having to play Crusaders on Tuesday night, which was the only game played in midweek. Friday's defeat at the Oval was their third game in seven days.

Asked if the schedule would stoke a siege mentality within Linfield's squad, Windsor legend Ferguson told the BBC: "David is going to have to channel that. It has been a difficult week.

"David was very honest in the media about Tuesday night's game being played, and other teams not playing. But listen, Linfield had to play Cliftonville last week and got a good win. They then played Crusaders on Tuesday and got a good win.

"This was a step too far for them. You have key players missing like Euan East, Sam Roscoe, Jamie Mulgrew. Matthew Fitzpatrick was suspended, Ben Hall and Kirk Millar go off injured tonight.

"That could be a case of too many matches in a short space of time and fatigue. You talk about players being at their best, but there is a duty of care to players as well.

"I am sure David will come out and say there was no duty of care to Linfield players this week. They have been overworked and had three massive games, and tonight going to extra-time has just compounded that.

"They have lost a lot of players now through suspension and injury, who will miss the next couple of games. But it is over now, they just have to deal with it."

Meanwhile, former Glentoran captain Paul Leeman admitted three games in a week was "tough, even for full-time teams".

He said: "It is a difficult situation for them, and as Spike said it was maybe a step too far for them today. But they gave David everything tonight. He won't want to make excuses, but three games in a week is tough, even for full-time teams.

"But he will be proud of what they gave him tonight. They were down to 10 men and were hanging on at the end, and Glentoran just got the late goal and Linfield couldn't take it to penalties."

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