Irish Premiership: Linfield 4-0 Dungannon Swifts

Two Aaron Burns goals and one each from Andrew Waterworth and Ivan Sproule secured the win which moved Linfield to third place in the Premiership table.

Burns gave the Blues the lead in the 38th minute with a surging run and fine shot past keeper Alvin Rouse.

It was Burns who provided the perfect pass for Andrew Waterworth whose first-time finish beat Rouse to make it 2-0.

Burns scored again soon after the break and substitute Ivan Sproule made it four on 68 minutes.

With Crusaders dropping two points at Ballinamallard, Linfield move up one place, level on points with second-placed Portadown and three behind leaders Cliftonville.

It was not the result Linfield needed at their Windsor Park headquarters having lost their last two home league games to Belfast rivals Crusaders and Cliftonville.

The Blues had the first chance when Ross Clarke worked his way in the penalty area but slid his shot wide.

Linfield made the breakthrough when Burns picked the ball up in a central position and went on a brilliant run, beating a couple of defenders before shooting past Swifts keeper Alvin Rouse.

The lead was doubled just before the interval when a nice through ball from Burns found Waterworth who finished well.

Four minutes into the second half Burns scored his second to make it 3-0, side-footing in at the far post from Ross Clarke's delivery from the right.

Clarke created the fourth for Sproule midway through the half, making the final pass despite losing both of his boots in the build-up.

There was definitely no way back now for an out-of-sorts Dungannon side who are without a league win since mid-August.