Andy McGrory heads wide from James Singleton's cross from deep.

David Kee misses a glorious chance from six yards out for Coleraine after a free-kick deflects off the Cliftonville wall.

Waterworth comes close to doubling Linfield's lead! Another error in judgement from the Crusaders defence allows Burns to make tracks down the left, pulling his cross back to meet on the onrushing striker. However, his effort crashes back off the outside of the post, goes out for a goal kick and Crusaders breathe once more.

Kym Nelson nearly breaks the deadlock for Cliftonville but he sees his left-foot free-kick crash off the bar and bounce onto the goal-line before being cleared to safety. Almost the opener!

Another blow for Baxter's side as Philip Lowry is forced to come off clutching his hamstring, further disrupting his manager's plans having already lost Jordan Owens before the game. Luckily, he calls upon a capable replacement in David Cushley, who comes on in Lowry's place. 

Image source, Press Eye

Johnny McMurray twice goes close for Ballymena, dragging a shot wide of Johnny Tuffey's post and then blasting a shot over from about 40 yards.

For Glenavon, Rhys Marshall saw his 30-yard free-kick well saved by Tim Allen in the United goal.

David Healy won't be thrilled with what he's seen so far. Linfield are yet to contribute much, in an attacking sense, to this game and Waterworth is already looking isolated up front. The 'Singing Section' hasn't had much to shout about. 

The best chance of the game so far falls to Coleraine but Adam Mullan can't find the net after David Kee's corner finds him at the back post.

Crusaders come close to breaking the deadlock! Howard Beverland rises highest to meet a corner and produces a fine save from Roy Carroll, stretching to claw the ball to safety. 

The away side have started impressively here, but the absence of Jordan Owens is already telling. They've managed to get plenty of crosses into the box but with nobody there to meet them. That's Owens's bread and butter and you have to say he probably would have finished one of those crosses with his predatory instinct. 

Matt Hazley lets fly from outside the box, forcing Carrick keeper Brian Neeson to palm over the crossbar. A real hand-warmer.

Well, that looked interesting. Billy Joe Burns, usually the archetypal composed defender, makes a mistake and allows Waterworth in. The Crusaders full-back responds by hauling the striker down as he bears down on goal just outside the area.

The home players remonstrate wildly, trying to influence Ian McNabb's decision, but the referee allowed cooler heads to prevail. The resulting free-kick comes to nothing.

A minute later, Craig McClean is guilty of an over-zealous tackle on the elusive Paul Smyth. He, too, is lucky to escape a booking. Interesting ebb and flow to this game already. 

Encouraging early signs for the league leaders. Gavin Whyte won a corner on the left flank, which led to a period of sustained pressure. They couldn't find the killer pass, though, when Heatley played a lovely reverse pass into Carvill, only for the midfielder to blast his cross into a Linfield defender.