Irish Premiership: Linfield 0-0 Glentoran

Linfield lie bottom of the Premiership without a win after being held to a goal-less draw by Belfast rivals Glentoran at Windsor Park on Saturday.

Both sides ended the game with 10 men as Aaron Burns was sent-off for a clash with Ryan O'Neill in the first half and Jason Hill got a second yellow late on.

Mark McAllister hit the post, Elliott Morris denied Matthew Tipton and Niall Quinn twice went close for the Blues.

Richard Clarke saw a fierce right-foot drive tipped wide by Jonathan Tuffey.

Linfield manager David Jeffrey made one change to his starting line-up with fit-again midfielder Jamie Mulgrew coming in for James Knowles, while Kyle McVey and Sean Ward continued their central defensive partnership.

David Scullion and Mark Miskimmin failed fitness tests for the Glens but David Howland, who was also rated doubtful, was named among the substitutes.

Mark Clarke and Jamie Mulgrew challenge for the ball at Windsor Park

In the early stages of the match, Michael Carvill fired a free-kick wide of the post and, at the other end, Jim O'Hanlon shot straight at the goalkeeper.

McAllister struck the upright with a right-foot effort and then Burns was dismissed by referee Arnold Hunter just after the half hour mark.

Just before half-time, Morris made a fine diving save from a Quinn free-kick as the home side retained their supremacy.

After the interval Morris tipped a Tipton drive over the bar and then Hill was sent-off for a second bookable offence.

Clarke was unable to beat Tuffey with his well-struck attempt and Quinn wasted a glorious chance to secure three points when he hit the side-netting with the goal gaping.

Ward was named as man of the match in his first appearance against his former club.

"I am not happy with our performance - we had no composure on the ball, we played too many high balls and too many long balls," said Glens manager Eddie Patterson.

Glentoran, who are now fifth in the table, face Ards in their next match on Tuesday night while Linfield play Warrenpoint Town on the same evening.