Zero sum game

Cliftonville 0-0 Linfield

Cliftonville and Linfield cancelled one another out in this evening’s Sports Direct Premiership encounter at Solitude.

Though the Reds arguably had the better openings in search of the game’s only goal, the Blues will also look to a number of opportunities that could have swung the tie in their favour.

A largely tepid first-half began with a brace of chances at either end; visiting striker Matthew Fitzpatrick threatening with two headers, while Joe Gormley went close with two snapshots.

It was in the second period that the contest really came to life and Cliftonville should have pulled on front on 46 minutes but, after being played through by Gormley, Kris Lowe was unable to repeat his weekend heroics and blazed well wide.

Lowe and Gormley then saw themselves crowded out by three Blues defenders as both players attempted to get a shot away in a crowded penalty area, while Luke Conlan’s header from a Ronan Doherty free-kick delivery was straight at Chris Johns.

The Blues keeper then did well to get down and turn a Ryan Curran attempt behind before Charlie Allen was twice off target at the other end.

Cliftonville appealed for a late penalty when Michael Newberry was bundled to the ground by Ethan McGee but, with referee Ian McNabb unmoved by the claims, the Reds were almost hit by a last-gasp sucker punch when McGee headed over the bar after being picked out by a Kirk Millar cross.

Cliftonville: Odumosu, Addis, Newberry, Kearney, Curran (Donnelly 80), Lowe (Hale 73), Conlan, Doherty (Pettifer 86), Piesold, Gormley (Steven 73), Glynn. Unused subs: Breen, Pepper, Leppard.