Irish Premiership: Warrenpoint Town 0-3 Linfield

Linfield moved back to the top of the Irish Premiership by beating bottom club Warrenpoint Town 3-0 in David Healy's first match as manager.

Aaron Burns made the breakthrough with a 29th-minute tap-in.

Warrenpoint had a chance to equalise with a penalty in the second half but Daniel Hughes saw his spot-kick come off the crossbar.

Guy Bates pounced on a mistake to make it 2-0 and Burns netted a penalty after Town's Jordan Dane was sent-off.

The young defender was shown a straight red for bringing down Bates in the 85th minute.

Linfield had started the day in second place and level on points with champions Crusaders who led on goal difference.

With the Crues being held to a 1-1 draw away to Ballinamallard, Linfield's win took them two points clear at the summit.

The big turning point

Warrenpoint had a great chance to equalise in the 75th minute when they got a penalty for Sean Ward's shove on home substitute Conor McDonald.

Daniel Hughes went for power with the spot-kick and it struck the crossbar.

Linfield took advantage of the let-off as Bates pounced on a weak back header by defender Dermot McVeigh to make it 2-0 in 81 minutes and Burns wrapped it up from the spot.

What they said

Linfield manager David Healy: "The display was OK, the result was good. We rode our luck a bit and people will say Warrenpoint should have scored.

"The players know I want to see a mental toughness and they showed that today.

"I am going to work my socks off in this job, and give the players and staff every opportunity to be successful.

"It is a huge task, but the previous manager has left us in a good position."