News

 For the third game in a row defending Danske Bank Premiership champions Cliftonville defeated the morning leaders after goals from Jude Winchester, David McDaid and Eamon Seydak saw them overturn an early Linfield lead.

The Blues moved in front after 13 minutes through Andrew Waterworth after Aaron Burns had nodded the ball on to create the opening.

Ivan Sproule should really have doubled Linfield's lead around the half-hour mark only to scuff a back post effort over the bar.

Joe Gormley might have levelled for Cliftonville on 41 minutes after he was threaded through by Seydak but Johnny Tuffey did well to deal with the danger.

But Winchester did equalise for Tommy Breslin's side a couple of minutes after that after combining with Seydak.

And Seydak was involved once more when his ball from the left was turned home by McDaid as the Reds hit the front four minutes after the break.

It was almost 2-2 with 20 minutes remaining when Burns directed a header downwards and onto an upright.

However, barely three minutes later, Seydak was awarded for his earlier endeavours with what proved to be the killer goal when he raced through to grab Cliftonville's third.

Linfield: Tuffey, Hegarty, Haughey, Waterworth, Lowry, Carvill, Burns, Ward, Sproule, Quinn, R. Clarke subs Ross Glendinning (not used), Millar (replaced Sproule 57), M. Clarke (not used), Morrow (replaced Carvill 78), Clucas (not used)

Cliftonville: Devlin, McGovern, Flynn, Curran, McDaid, Donnelly, Seydak, Catney, Winchester, Gormley, Cosgrove subs Johnston (replaced Gormley 85), McMullan (not used), Garrett (replaced Donnelly 76), Knowles (not used), Mulvenna (replaced McDaid 80)

Referee: Arnold Hunter

Attendance: 3893