Highlights: Cliftonville 0-0 Linfield

Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Linfield missed the chance to close the gap on leaders Coleraine as they played out a drab 0-0 draw with Cliftonville at Solitude.

It was a game that failed to ignite with both teams lacking quality in the final third to break the deadlock.

Joe Gormley hit the crossbar for the Reds while Matthew Fitzpatrick squandered Linfield's best chances as both sides were forced to settle for a point.

The draw leaves the Blues in fourth, 11 points behind the Bannsiders with three games in hand, while Cliftonville are in ninth in the table.

Spoils shared at Solitude

Ryan Curran and Ben HallPress Eye

Cliftonville and Linfield lacked quality in the final third as they were forced to settle for a point

It was a cagey first half at Solitude, with clear-cut chances at a premium for both teams.

The best opportunity arrived on 20 minutes as Rory Hale won possession back for the Reds high up the pitch and fed Ryan Curran, who squared for McWoods, but his strike was beaten away by Chris Johns.

At the other end, Kirk Millar lifted an effort over the crossbar and Charlie Allen headed wide in the box in some of Linfield's half-chances.

It was an equally tentative second half with Odhran Casey heading over the crossbar from Hale's corner soon after the restart.

Then, just after the hour mark, Fitzpatrick spurned a glorious opportunity as he fired a low shot wide of the far post after the ball fell kindly to him in the box.

Soon after, Sam Roscoe glanced wide after meeting substitute Callumn Morrison's cross.

Substitute Gormley thought he had won the game in the last minute of injury time as his deflected strike rattled the crossbar.

Cliftonville analysis - Reds lack cutting edge

Cliftonville will feel frustrated they did not come away with all three points after enjoying large spells of possession, without really troubling Johns in the Linfield goal.

The Reds are the joint-second lowest goal scorers in the league with Carrick Rangers on 13 and their lack of cutting edge in front of goal was evident again on Sunday.

Every time they got into promising positions in and around the box, their final pass or shot let them down.

McWoods will feel he should have done better with his chance in the first half as if he had shot either side of Johns he would have scored, while Gormley was unlucky in the final minute that his fierce strike crashed off the underside of the crossbar.

Jim Magilton's men have recorded back-to-back clean sheets in the league, which is promising, but if they want to move up the table, they need to start finding the back of the net consistently at the other end, especially with tough league games against Dungannon Swifts and Coleraine to come.

Linfield analysis - Blues' defence stands strong

Eric McWoods and Sam RoscoePacemaker

Roscoe and his centre-back partner Hall impressed for Linfield

While Tuesday's night's 2-2 draw against Coleraine will feel like two points dropped for David Healy after his side surrendered a two-goal advantage, this 0-0 draw will probably feel like a point gained.

Given they were beaten 4-1 by the Reds at Solitude last month in a County Antrim Shield game, albeit with a largely second-string side, Healy will have been glad that Linfield defended much better in this game.

Ben Hall and Sam Roscoe managed to contain Curran and McWoods, with Hall in particular making some key blocks.

Healy's frustration will be at the other end, that Linfield failed to find a goal when they were on top in a short spell around the hour mark as Fitzpatrick and Roscoe missed two big opportunities in quick succession.

Two successive league draws leaves them 11 behind Coleraine, but with three games in hand and a meeting with the Bannsiders up next, the Blues will be confident that they are still in the hunt to retain the Gibson Cup.

What's next for Cliftonville and Linfield?

Holders Cliftonville will take on third-tier Strabane Athletic in the second round of the BetMcLean Cup at Solitude on Wednesday, 5 November.

Linfield are also in League Cup action as they are away to Championship side H&W Welders on the same night.

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