Draw data

Cliftonville 0-0 Linfield

Cliftonville were forced to settle for a point as the Reds and Linfield cancelled one another out in this afternoon’s Sports Direct Premiership encounter at Solitude.

The hosts had the best chance of the game when Eric McWoods fired straight at Blues goalkeeper Chris Johns, who cut a relieved figure in injury-time when a Joe Gormley cross was deflected on to his crossbar.

Jim Magilton made just one change to the side that had overcome Carrick Rangers last time out with Shaun Leppard – who scored the only goal of the game at Taylors Avenue – being replaced in the line-up by Odhran Casey, who returned after suspension.

Despite starting brightly, Cliftonville almost fell behind with 10 minutes on the clock when Rory Hale’s corner was quickly cleared, leading to a swift Linfield breakaway that saw Charlie Allen feed Sam Taylor, who worked his way past Harry Wilson only for Tom Lavery to produce a superb block challenge inside the box.

The deadlock should have been broken at the other end 10 minutes later when good pressure from Hale forced a defensive error from the Blues and when Ryan Curran fed McWoods, the American frontman could only direct his blast directly at Johns.

Just past the hour mark, visiting frontman Matthew Fitzpatrick lashed wide from a promising position before Sam Roscoe-Byrne was off target with a header from Callumn Morrison’s delivery.

Casey saw a header gathered by Johns as the Reds sought a late winner, which almost arrived in the final minute of injury-time when Gormley’s attempt at a low cross ricocheted over the Linfield keeper and on to the bar before being hurriedly cleared to ensure the points were shared.

Cliftonville: Morrison, Lavery (Pepper, 80 mins), Addis, Wilson, Hale, Curran, Casey, Keaney, McWoods (Gormley, 80 mins), Hawthorne (Barr, 69 mins), Sheridan (McCay, 80 mins). Unused subs: Ridd, Bermingham, Leppard.