Linfield manager David Healy is clear “we’ll certainly not get too ahead of ourselves” after his side avenged their shock opening day defeat to Ballymena United by beating the Sky Blues 3-0 on Friday night – maintaining the Premiership's top spot in the process.

Since Linfield lost out at Windsor Park on August 8, they’ve put together an impressive 15-game unbeaten league run to sit one point ahead of Coleraine and are 10 better off than reigning champions Larne, who have played two matches fewer.

Across that period, no team has conceded fewer goals than Linfield (eight) with only Coleraine (32) scoring more than their 27.

The Blues boast the Premiership’s best defensive record both home and away with Friday’s Showgrounds success coming courtesy of a ruthless 26-minute first half period – Matthew Fitzpatrick, Isaac Baird and a David Toure own goal sealing maximum points for the visitors.

placeholder image — Linfield manager David Healy. (Photo by Andrew McCarroll/Pacemaker Press)

Healy’s men were able to follow up a statement 3-0 win over rivals Coleraine – a second of the campaign – with another victory, but Healy insists full focus will remain on the immediate task at hand.

"It was important that we started the game well, especially off the back of the performance we got against Coleraine,” Healy told the club's media channel. "My challenge to the players was could they go and back up the performance and result?

"I think we did a little bit of both...periods in the first half that we created so many final-third entries and opportunities.

"We capitalised with the three that we got...one or two that maybe got away that we could have done maybe slightly better with.

"But, all-in-all, when you play against a team and a manager like Oran (Kearney) and the players...to come down and dominate the first half, which was key, it gave us certainly the platform to go and win the game.

"For some of the supporters it was probably boring in the second half but the most important thing is we got a clean sheet.

"It looks as if it's probably a positive that we don't play a game now until next Saturday...maybe one or two little knocks.

"We're back in Monday and we're preparing for a big game now against Limavady.

"My job is to maintain and try to inspire the dressing room....after that (loss to Ballymena at the start of the season) obviously we beat Glentoran.

"They've basically maintained the dressing room and inspired me and the rest of the staff with their performance levels.

"There's been one or two games that we've maybe underachieved and underperformed but, all-in-all, I have no qualms with the way they go about their daily work and their week.

"They're getting a little bit of joy at the minute but we certainly know that we'll not get too ahead of ourselves….when you start doing that at a place like Linfield, a team like Limavady could spring one on you and then all of a sudden you're back to square one.

"Our form down here (Ballymena), more often than not, it's always a difficult fixture.

"So to get the lead tonight and certainly get the second and the third was important."