It's all about the keepers here.

Crusaders' number one Johnny Tuffey does well to dive low to his left to deny Connor Murray from a free-kick 25 yards out.

Liam Beckett
Sportsound summariser

Portadown need a spark to get the crowd going and that will hopefully transfer it to the players on the field. After a good start they have gone into their shell. It's been a comedy of defensive errors for them.

James Carroll comes within inches of breaking the deadlock for the Villagers!

Conor McCloskey's pinpoint delivery finds Carroll, whose powerful header crashes against the woodwork, with the Reds scrambling the rebound to safety.

A tepid opening 20 minutes, where genuine goalmouth action remains elusive.

Neither the hosts nor Dean Smith's men have managed to trouble the goalkeepers, with both sides struggling to convert possession into meaningful opportunities.

Referee Tim Marshall goes into his pocket for the first time as Kyle McClean is cautioned.

A needless yellow card for the Linfield midfielder.

Rory Brown's afternoon is over.

The Coleraine goalkeeper leaves the pitch, thankfully without the aid of a stretcher, but unable to continue following that earlier challenge with Harry Franklin.

Max Little comes on to replace him.

Cammy Palmer's strike from a Danny Amos corner sails well over the crossbar.

Even though the home side have enjoyed majority of the possession, it's been a quiet opening 20 minutes for Larne stopper Rohan Ferguson.

Carrick open Ballymena up with a quick counter-attack with Paul Heatley's ball being helped on by Ethan Boyle into the path of Danny Gibson but his scuffed effort doesn't trouble Sean O'Neill.

Michael Glynn's inviting free-kick finds Odhran Casey, who directs his header across the danger area, but the hosts' momentum is halted as Jonny Addis commits a foul on Conor McCloskey.

Concern here for Coleraine goalkeeper Rory Brown, who remains on the ground following a challenge inside his six-yard box.

Kieran Offord plays an inviting pass across the front of goal where Brown and Crusaders forward Harry Franklin compete for the ball.

Brown receiving treatment in his own goal.

Watch Joel Cooper give Linfield the lead with his 15th goal of the season in the third minute.

After a rather frantic start at Shamrock Park, the game has settled.

The Blues look increasingly dangerous every time they break forward, with Joel Cooper lurking and getting on the end of Matthew Fitzpatrick flick-ons.

Portadown have looked threatening on a few attacks, but as of yet haven't been able to muster up any real meaningful efforts to trouble David Walsh in the Linfield goal.

Michael Glynn delivers from the left flank for the home side, but Nathan Gartside is quick off his line to confidently punch clear the danger under pressure.

Paul Heatley wriggles into the Ballymena penalty area but Sean O'Neill is quickly off his line to block the effort behind at the expense of a corner.

Kodi Lyons-Foster can't make the connection needed to nod a superb curling free-kick by Danny Amos towards goal.

What a delivery that was from Amos.

Ross Clarke cuts in off the right touchline on to his left foot but drags his shot from 20 yards wide of Rory Brown's near post.

A first sight of goal for the north Belfast men.

David Fisher's looping delivery into the box is quickly headed away by Cian Bolger.

The home side have settled into the game well and are dominating possession.

Kyle Cherry fires a snap-shot which is straight down Ballymena keeper Sean O'Neill's throat.

It's been a lively opening at Taylor's Avenue, albeit without much goalmouth action.

A big chance for the home side as Kyle Spence finds himself in acres of space inside the Crusaders half.

With Dean Jarvis screaming for the ball inside, the winger ignores him, racing forward into the opposition box.

Just as he is about to shoot, he is dispossessed by a brilliantly timed tackle from Jacob Blaney.

Cammy Palmer and Tomas Cosgrove clash in the box with Cosgrove appearing to handle the ball before Chris Morrison had blown his whistle for a goal-kick.

The home fans are appealing for a penalty, but their appeals are waved away.