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FT: Linfield 2-1 Crusaders Joel Cooper puts Blues ahead early but Ross Clarke quickly levels for visitors Chris Mc Kee restores Linfield's lead before half-time Kyle Mc Clean and Cooper both denied by the woodwork in the second half Matthew Fitzpatrick receives a second yellow and is sent off in stoppage time Linfield aiming to move 19 points clear at top of Irish Premiership table; Crusaders start the night in fifth place Paul Kelly Linfield 2-1 Crusaders Referee Declan Hassan blows his whistle as Linfield go 19 points clear at the top of the Irish Premiership. It was anything but routine for David Healy's men, but the Blues hang on for all three points against a resilient Crusaders side. Linfield 2-1 Crusaders Jonathan Tuffey makes an outstanding save to deny Joel Cooper what would have been a quite brilliant solo effort! Linfield 2-1 Crusaders David Healy is shown a yellow card after protesting Matthew Fitzpatrick's red card a little too much. Linfield 2-1 Crusaders Matthew Fitzpatrick is shown a second yellow card and is sent off! His challenge on Daniel Larmour is deemed yellow card worthy by Declan Hassan, who sends Fitzpatrick for an early shower. Linfield 2-1 Crusaders The fourth official has indicated there will be a minimum of five additional minutes. Linfield 2-1 Crusaders Joel Cooper dispossesses Brandon Downey before unleashing a powerful strike with his left foot that sails just over the crossbar. Linfield remain on top but still just have that one goal advantage. Linfield 2-1 Crusaders Declan Caddell makes a double change as Jordan Owens and Brandon Downey replace Harry Jewitt-White and Harry Franklin. Blues boss David Healy also makes a change as Ben Hall comes on in place of Cameron Ballantyne. Linfield 2-1 Crusaders Josh Archer is cautioned for his late tackle on Josh O'Connor. Five minutes left on the clock. Linfield 2-1 Crusaders Linfield's lead is a slender one as we enter the final 15 minutes of normal time. Still all to play for at Windsor Park. Linfield 2-1 Crusaders Daniel Larmour is shown a yellow card for his late challenge on Matthew Fitzpatrick. Linfield 2-1 Crusaders The Blues strike the woodwork again as Joel Cooper tries to catch Jonathan Tuffey out with a near post effort, but instead hits it the wrong side of the post and behind for a goal kick. There were two Linfield players in the box waiting for the pass from Cooper, who instead opted for the shot himself. Linfield 2-1 Crusaders Kyle Mc Clean has his head in his hands as he strikes the upright when it looked more difficult to miss! Some neat play from Joel Cooper who finds Matthew Fitzpatrick before the Linfield striker unselfishly opts for the square pass to Mc Clean when he could have taken the shot on himself. Mc Clean takes a touch but can't quite get the ball out of his feet before striking the left-hand post when it looked harder to miss. Huge let off for the Crues. Linfield 2-1 Crusaders Jonathan Tuffey makes a smart stop to deny Matthew Fitzpatrick, as he strikes from just inside the area after Cameron Ballantyne plays him through. The second half has been fairly frantic so far, without either side really threatening in the final third. All to play for. Linfield 2-1 Crusaders Matthew Orr is the latest player to go in referee Declan Hassan's book. Linfield 2-1 Crusaders We're back underway at Windsor Park. Will the second half produce just as much entertainment as the first? Declan Caddell makes a change at the break as Josh O'Connor replaces goal scorer Ross Clarke for the visitors. HT: Linfield 2-1 Crusaders Chris Mc Kee's tidy finish restores the lead for the hosts before the half-time break. This video can not be played Watch: Mc Kee long range strike to take the lead for the Blues Linfield 2-1 Crusaders Linfield go in a goal to the good at the break. An entertaining half of football with three well taken goals. Lets hope the second half produces more of the same. Chris Mc Kee - 45 mins The Blues regain their advantage just before the break! This time Joel Cooper turns provider as he finds Chris Mc Kee in space on the edge of the area, who strikes first-time with his right foot and finds the back of the net with help of the left-hand upright. Another great strike with the opposite post coming to the aid of Linfield this time, after Cooper's strike earlier in the half went in off the right upright. Linfield 1-1 Crusaders What an effort from Joel Cooper as he smashed the crossbar with a fierce left-footed strike. Jonathan Tuffey may have got a hand to it to deny Cooper what would have been an exquisite goal. Linfield 1-1 Crusaders Joel Cooper does well to keep possession of the ball before picking out Ethan Mc Gee on the edge of the box. Mc Gee strikes well from outside the area but his shot is blocked and goes behind for a corner. The visitors deal with the resulting set piece and clear their lines. Linfield have not lost in all competitions since 3 December Linfield did just enough to defeat a resilient Crusaders 2-1 and move 19 points clear at the top of the Irish Premiership thanks to goals from Joel Cooper and Chris Mc Kee either side of a Ross Clarke equaliser in the first half. Without new signing Kieran Offord in the line-up, the Blues made a blistering start and broke the deadlock after just seven minutes as Cooper pounced on a misplaced pass before firing his strike into the back of the net with help from the right-hand upright. Crusaders, however responded immediately through Clarke, who smashed home the equaliser with a fierce strike beyond David Walsh at his near post. David Healy's side regained their advantage just before the break as Cooper turned provider this time, setting up Mc Kee who found the back of the net with a pinpoint strike as the left-hand upright helped divert the ball past Jonathan Tuffey. Linfield hit the woodwork twice in quick succession in the second half, with Cooper striking the outside of the upright from a tight angle before Kyle Mc Clean struck the post when it looked harder to miss. The Blues were reduced to 10 men in injury time as Matthew Fitzpatrick was sent off but hung on to take all three points and extend their lead at the top of the table over Glentoran in second place. Last Updated 28th January 2025 at 21: 43 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: David Healy Manager: Declan Caddell Manager: David Healy Manager: Declan Caddell Irish Premiership All competitions All competitions All competitions © 2025 BBC. 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