Linfield boss David Healy labelled his team’s performance as ‘professional’ and ‘disciplined’ as they pocketed three vital Boyle Sports Premiership points against Crusaders at Windsor Park off a 1-0 win.

It was new midfielder Kitt Nelson who bagged the winner just after the interval to help keep the Blues in the slipstream of table-topping Coleraine.

Following their midweek draw away at Portadown, it was just the result Healy and his boys craved, getting them back on a winning track.

However, they had to play out the final 25 minutes with only 10 men after wing wizard Kirk Millar was dismissed following an ugly challenge on Crues defender Kurtis Forsythe.

placeholder image — Linfield's Kitt Nelson (right) celebrates his goal in victory over Crusaders. (Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press)

“We were professional; we were organised and we were disciplined,” said Healy. “Without sounding as if it was comfortable, I always thought we could hold out with the 10 men...I thought we were deserved winners.

“The first half was played a ‘testimonial pace’...Crusaders were happy enough to sit in and defend.

"Thankfully, Kitt managed to come up with the goal we needed.

“It was probably the first time we injected a little bit of pace and energy in the final third.

“Kitt was in the right place at the right time...I thought his energy was good today; I thought when he was on the ball, he was driving into space.

“It’s important that other people chip in with goals, it was a really important strike at a good time just after the interval.

“The frustrating thing was we had chances to go and get a second and potentially a third goal but never took them.

“Then, when Kirk was sent off, you think we will not create another big two or three chances...fair play to the players, they did more than enough to see the game out.”

Crusaders manager Declan Caddell admitted he had no complaints with the outcome.

“I was disappointed on our ‘on-the-ball’ performance rather than our ‘off-the-ball’ performance, put it like that,” he said. “Our shape was good in the first half, we frustrated Linfield, but I just wasn’t happy with our performance, we forced balls we didn’t need to; I thought we needed a bit more bravery on the ball.

“We shot ourselves in the foot a minute into the second half by conceding a goal, from a poor pass.

“We are a young side, but they must get used to playing at venues like this.

“If these younger lads want to have a great career, whether it’s with us or playing across the water, they must get used to playing at places like this.”

LINFIELD: Johns, McClean, Frizzell, Nelson (Brown, 84), Hall, Wells (Millar, 59), Brennan (Shields, 75), Baird, McGee, Moore (Chapman, 84), McCullough.

Subs (not used): Glavin, Annett, Temetan.

CRUSADERS: Callister, Forsythe, Rough, Weir (Mulholland, 82), Jewitt-White, Dunlop, Doherty (Anderson, 56), Rocks, Wardell, Reid (Maguire, 62), Barr.

Subs (not used): Kelly, Blaney, Bond, Beattie.

Referee: Tim Marshall.