Highlights: Linfield 1-0 Crusaders

Linfield got back to winning ways with a 13th straight victory over Crusaders as they made it six league wins from their past seven Premiership games.

Kitt Nelson's strike 68 seconds after the restart gave the Blues an early lead in the second half and ultimately proved the difference between the sides at Windsor Park.

Substitute Kirk Millar was shown a straight red card just 10 minutes after being introduced in the second half with David Healy's side closing the half out with 10 men.

The Blues travel to face Coleraine next Friday night while Crusaders host Bangor at Seaview on Saturday afternoon.

Blues do enough to scrape past Crues at Windsor Park

Crusaders goalkeeper Shea Callister was called into action early on to deny Nelson from breaking the deadlock, getting down to his left to prevent the Preston North End loanee from scoring his first goal in Linfield colours.

Callister once again came to the Crues rescue 10 minutes later, this time pulling off an even better save to prevent the Blues from hitting the front by tipping a curling Kyle McClean strike over the crossbar.

Just two minutes after the restart the home side hit the front. Ethan McGee's deflected cross made it all the way to the back post, where Nelson followed in and was on hand to fire home from close range.

The home side dominated proceedings after taking the lead, but were reduced to 10 men with 20 minutes remaining as Millar's late challenge on Kurtis Forsythe gave referee Tim Marshall no choice but to send him off.

Linfield held on despite their numerical disadvantage to secure all three points.

What the managers said

Linfield manager David Healy: "I'm pleased to get back on the winning trail. I thought we underperformed against Portadown on Tuesday night, but we did today. I thought we were better.

"The first half was probably a bit of a bore-fest, then we scored within 90 seconds of the second half and had another three or four opportunities to kill the game off."

Crusaders boss Declan Caddell: "I'm disappointed. I thought on Tuesday night the boys were outstanding. Our shape, our discipline and our quality on the ball was really good, but today not so much.

"I thought our shape out of possession was good. We frustrated Linfield for long periods, but on the ball we were really poor today."