Jim Magilton wastes no time in tweaking Cliftonville’s approach, switching to a back five to curb the influence of Steven Scott charging down the right.

That leaves a midfield trio of Shea Gordon, Adebayo Fapetu and Ryan Curran, asked to plug the gaps and steady the visitors against mounting Swifts pressure.

David Jeffrey
Former Linfield & Ballymena manager on BBC iPlayer

Crusaders are looking the more adventurous side. They are having more possession and are keeping the ball well. They have had a few efforts on goal and look the more likely at the moment to score the opening goal.

Appeals for a penalty from Linfield as they feel Barney McKeown has handled the ball inside his own box.

Referee Ross Dunlop isn't convinced and waves away any appeals.

Steven Scott whips in a cross from the right, and Junior Uzokwe tumbles under the challenge of Conor Pepper.

Appeals are made, but Declan Hassan is unmoved. Rodney McAree, meanwhile, is irate on the sideline, adamant the Swifts are denied a second spot-kick.

Sean Brown's cross is met on the head by Chris McKee, who almost finds the corner of the net to give Linfield the lead.

His flicked header flies just wide of the left-hand upright.

Kyle McClean's cross from the resulting free-kick evades everyone and requires Jacob Carney to react quickly at the back post to parry behind for a Linfield corner.

The resulting corner comes to nothing and the Lurgan Blues clear their lines.

Better from the home side in the past few minutes.

First, Fraser Bryden sets Finley Thorndike up for a shot which goes narrowly past the past before Elliot Dunlop forces a fine diving save to his left from United keeper Sean O'Neill.

Approaching the mid point of the first half.

Jack Malone is very lucky to escape a yellow card after a late challenge on Matthew Fitzpatrick.

Drama at Stangmore Park as Junior Uzokwe finds the net, only for the goal to be ruled out.

Rory Hale handles on the line to block Tomas Galvin’s effort, and the referee shows him a red card. The Reds are down to 10, and the Swifts have a penalty.

Joe Crowe receives a yellow card for a late tackle on Conor McKendry.

Lewis Barr with a strong run from deep weaves his way past a number of Ballymena defenders before drilling a low ball across the face of goal.

Unfortunately for him, no-one in a Crusaders shirt is following up.

Tomas Galvin is next into referee Declan Hassan's book for a late challenge in the Cliftonville half.

Kyle McClean whips a pacey free-kick into the box which Euan East meets on the head, but can't quite keep on target.

East will be disappointed he hasn't at least worked the goalkeeper with a free header.

The Blues are beginning to assert themselves.

Ballymena United half-hearted appeals for a penalty as Success Edogun takes a tumble in the box but referee Ben McMaster is not impressed.

Odhran Casey earns a fierce blast from Jim Magilton after a loose challenge in the Dungannon half allows Adam Glenny to send in a cross.

Fortunately for the visitors and Casey, PJ Morrison reads it well and comes off his line to claim possession.

The corner comes to nothing, Ballymena United goalkeeper Sean O'Neill comfortably gathering the ball.