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Linfield remain a point ahead at the top of the Danske Bank Premiership as the Blues and second place Cliftonville were inseparable in a goalless draw at a sold out Solitude this evening in the first of the five post-split fixtures.

Despite what the scoreline might suggest at first, this was a good match between two strong teams fighting it out for the title and both teams had chances. The Blues edged the first half, seeing more of the ball and creating the two best chances. Chris Shields winning the midfield battle played a key part in this.

Returning from a three-game suspension, Christy Manzinga had a golden opportunity after 17 minutes. It opened up for the Blues on the transition as the ball dropped for Chris McKee who reacted quickly to slip a neat first-time through ball beyond Reds defender Addis to send Manzinga in the clear, but the attacker’s attempt to find the far corner was excellently stopped by Cliftonville ‘keeper McNicholas who made himself big to make the save.

Strike partner McKee saw a decent opportunity go begging a short time later. It was a well-worked move from David Healy’s men as Kyle McClean brought the ball forward before finding Millar into the box and he teed up McKee whose first time volley from a good position flashed wide. In fairness, it came quickly and he didn’t have time to properly adjust his body shape to fully get behind the effort.

The match had a good tempo to it, as expected given the stakes. However, there was an early setback for Linfield as midfielder Stephen Fallon pulled up after 10 minutes with a muscle injury. Luckily for David Healy, when he looked to his bench he had one of the club’s all-time greats to call on – Jamie Mulgrew – who was on the bench after an illness in the lead up to the game.

Cliftonville’s best chance of the first half fell for their talisman, Joe Gormley, who peeled off the shoulder to latch onto a ball in behind the Linfield back line before seeing his well-struck shot well saved by Johns who beat the effort away. It wasn’t fully cleared as Reds striker Ryan Curran met the rebound only to be denied by a brilliant block by the transcendent Chris Shields.

The Blues then almost went through on goal straight away on the counter attack as Christy Manzinga found himself one-on-one with a defender whose challenge left Manzinga grounded and requiring treatment. However, the referee adjudged it a legal challenge. If it had been a foul the defender would have been sent off.

Both teams had their own good little spells and there were a number of decent chances, if not clear cut. Gormley’s well-struck low drive from range was well saved by Johns and later Ryan Curran back post glancing header flashed wide of the post.

Half Time: Cliftonville 0-0 Linfield

Cliftonville came out strongly in the second half on home turf and had two great chances in a 15 minute spell. Firstly, a long throw from Reds defender Luke Turner wasn’t dealt with and it fell for Joe Gormley, but the in-form striker uncharacteristically fired over from a great central position. Seemingly he went for power and leaned back too much.

A short time later the Reds’ record goalscorer went close again. A low ball into the box was flicked so intelligently around the corner by Ryan Curran to find Gormley in space at close range but as the Reds fans rose to their feet in expectation, Chris Johns made a vital and superb save to deflect the shot wide with his left arm. It went behind for a corner which was worked short and when eventually delivered by Daniel Kearns it was headed over at the back post by Jonny Addis.

Jordan Stewart’s arrival with 25 minutes to go put Linfield back on the front foot. The maestro almost had an immediate impact when he slipped through a neat pass to Christy Manzinga inside the box but the forward fired his shot over the bar. It was a tight angle and Stewart wanted a return ball.

Stewart troubled Cliftonville again five minutes later. He did brilliantly to burst into the box from the corner area before having a fierce shot from the angle beaten away by Cliftonville ‘keeper McNicholas and when the ball dropped for Mulgrew on the edge of the box his volley flashed just wide of the post.

Another substitute, Ethan Devine, also put himself about when he came on for the last ten plus minutes. Immediately he did well to win a flick on to send Manzinga into the box again and this time his low strike flashed across the face of goal.

A strong ending from the Blues brought one final opportunity with the last kick of the game with a free-kick right on the edge of the Cliftonville box but Jordan Stewart’s low free-kick was a yard the wrong side of the post.

With four matches remaining and just one point in it at the top it remains all to play for and Linfield will need a big result when they take on Glentoran at Windsor Park next Friday evening.

Full Time: Cliftonville 0 – 0 Linfield

Match Images

1. David Healy : Still in our hands