Linfield bounced back from last week’s disappointing defeat to Cliftonville at Solitude with a 3-1 victory over Portadown at Windsor Park last night.

The Blues leapfrog Coleraine into third position by a point, although the Bannsiders have a game in hand. Portadown remain eighth.

The Linfield team featured two changes from last week’s match against Cliftonville. Club captain Jamie Mulgrew and young full-back Sean Brown both came into the team in place of Josh Archer who was on the bench and Ethan McGee who missed out through a one-game suspension after picking up his fifth booking of the season.

The Blues got off to the perfect start, taking the lead after just 98 seconds! A neat move down the left saw Matthew Fitpatrick thread a measured pass beyond the Portadown right-back to put Euan East in, and his low cross forced Portadown captain Baris Altintop into action as he had Isaac Baird lurking over his shoulder, and it resulted in the defender putting the ball into his own net.

Ben Hall also had a chance early on when he met Sam Taylor’s corner, but his header was saved/ Portadown, to their credit, responded well to going behind and grew into the game, and they almost drew level on 22 minutes when winger James Teelan latched onto a through ball and went beyond the onrushing Chris Johns before firing wide from a tight angle.

However, the Ports did then produce a well-worked equaliser a minute later. A great ball down the line from full-back Divin Isamala released Josh Ukek down the right and he pulled the ball across goal where Eamon Fyfe popped up at the front post to score. Chris Johns got something on it but Fyfe did enough to force the ball over the line to take him into double figures for the season.

There was some frustration from the Blues, which was a credit to Portadown for responding well and pinning the champions back to level terms. The remainder of the first half was a quieter affair, although the Blues still had two probable opportunities.

Firstly, a glorious cross from Sean Brown picked out Sam Taylor in space in the box. A very similar combination from the same two players brought about Linfield’s opening goal when the two teams met at Windsor Park earlier this season, but on this occasion, Taylor’s first touch let him down and Portadown were able to clear.

Then, in the late stages of the first half, Kirk Millar delivered a good cross from the right and it was met by Kyle McClean, however his back post header went just over the crossbar.

HT: LINFIELD 1-1 PORTADOWN

David Healy turned to his bench at half-time and made a triple substitution. Sean Brown, Jamie Mulgrew and Isaac Baird made way and were replaced by Josh Archer, Adam Frizzell and Kieran Offord.

Scottish striker Kieran Offord’s introduction saw the striker make a return from injury having been out since November with a broken foot. However, things didn’t go as hoped upon his return. Three minutes into the second half, Offord took a touch in the middle of the pitch before being crunched by Portadown defender Lewis MacKinnon who received a booking. Despite Offord’s determination to try and continue, he eventually had to be withdrawn five minutes later as he was unable to overcome the impact of the tackle. It is too early to know just how serious this latest setback is and what the recovery time will be.

The other two half-time substitutes – Josh Archer and Adam Frizzell – had an impact on the match as the Blues went on to clinch three points.

There were chances at both ends. Matthew Fitzpatrick had a stooping header well saved by former blue, Alex Moore, down low to his left after Josh Archer went short to receive a corner before putting in a cross to the front post area.

Fitzpatrick had another good chance a short time later and will have been disappointed not to have scored as he volleyed wide from close range.

A dangerous Portadown corner delivery gave the Blues a bit of trouble, but the champions managed to keep it out before constructing a purposeful counter-attack. Fitzpatrick found Frizzell out the left, and he picked out Sam Taylor darting through the middle, but Portadown did well to get back in and crowd him out.

Portadown had a great chance midway through the second half when a straight long ball down the pitch caused the Blues real problems, but ultimately, Darragh Leahy did well to get back in and make a crucial block to deny Josh Ukek.

Two minutes later, the Blues forced a corner up the other end and it led to Shay McCartan catching Darragh Leahy inside the box, resulting in a Linfield penalty. It was a double blow for the Ports as McCartan saw red for a second booking – the first of which came on the hour-mark for a late challenge on Taylor in the middle of the pitch. The Blues have an unconvincing record from the spot this season, but Kyle McClean was totally convincing as he strutted up and put the ball into the bottom left corner for his fifth goal of the season.

However, a goal down and a man down, Portadown didn’t give up, and they remained a threat. A free-kick delivery found the head of Isamala in a good position but he headed over.

The Blues then survived a major scare on 84 minutes. Substitute attacker Ben Quinn nipped in to steal the ball in a dangerous area and he squared it to Eamon Fyfe, but he was denied by a great save by Chris Johns. Fyfe had a follow-up effort which was crucially blocked by Darragh Leahy, then Euan East cleared the ball off the line.

Any nerves were put at ease as the Blues made it 3-1 on 86 minutes. It was a well-worked counter-attacking goal – Fitzpatrick found Yates on the left and he hung the ball up for Adam Frizzell who brought the ball down on his chest before arrowing a left-footed strike into the bottom right corner for his second goal in a blue shirt.

The icing on the cake for the Blues came in the final minutes when Robbie McDaid came on to make his first appearance of the season following a spell out injured.

The Blues now turn their attention to Sunday’s Bet McLean Cup final showdown with rivals Glentoran at Windsor Park.

FT: LINFIELD 3-1 PORTADOWN

Linfieldfc.com Man of the Match: Darragh Leahy

LINFIELD: Chris Johns (GK), Sean Brown (Kieran Offord 45’ – Matt Yates 58’), Ben Hall, Darragh Leahy, Euan East, Jamie Mulgrew © (Josh Archer 45’), Isaac Baird (Adam Frizzell 45’), Kyle McClean, Kirk Millar, Sam Taylor, Matthew Fitzpatrick (Robbie McDaid 89’)

Unused subs: David Walsh (GK), Dane McCullough

PORTADOWN: Alex Moore (GK), Divin Isamala, Baris Altintop ©, Lewis MacKinnon, Aaron Traynor, Tabu Rabby Minzamba, Adam Towe, Shay McCartan, James Teelan (Gideon Tetteh 58’), Eamon Fyfe (Benjamin Wells 90’), Josh Ukek (Ben Quinn 71’)

Unused subs: Samuel Francey (GK), Jack Scott, Jordan Gibson, Ahu Obhakhan

REFEREE: Ross Dunlop