Dungannon Swifts’ stay at the Premiership’s summit may have only lasted a matter of hours on Saturday evening, but Dixie Robinson was left delighted with a “wonderful stat” that helps outline just why the Co Tyrone club are enjoying a dream season start.

Rodney McAree’s side won their fourth consecutive league match – and kept a fourth consecutive clean sheet – with a 2-0 weekend win away to Limavady United.

Twelve months ago, Dungannon were left reeling after a fifth straight Premiership loss and sat without a point, but they’re now flying high and left the pitch to chants of ‘we are top of the league’ on Saturday.

Title favourites Coleraine returned to top spot with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Crusaders in the evening kick-off, but it’s testament to continued progress at Stangmore Park that Dungannon were in that position.

placeholder image — Leo Alves celebrates putting Dungannon Swifts ahead in their win against Limavady United. (Photo by Desmond Loughery/Pacemaker Press)

Only the Bannsiders (two) have conceded fewer goals than the Swifts (three) across teams who have played five league matches this term.

Despite finishing inside the Premiership’s top-half for a second consecutive season last term, Dungannon leaked 77 goals – a number which sat only above Crusaders (81).

Defensive improvements have set solid foundations for Dungannon’s winning run and Robinson hailed a collective effort.

"It's great,” he told the club’s media channel. “Somebody said it's the first time the Swifts have kept four consecutive clean sheets in the Premiership so that's a wonderful stat and it's credit to the boys.

"Decky (Dunne, goalkeeper) has been superb. I thought I heard his voice today more than I have in while, which is good, he's keeping people on their toes and Decky likes the clean sheets as well.

"It lends itself to a good platform to getting three points."

Leo Alves opened the scoring for Dungannon before Junior doubled his side’s advantage after the break.

The result leaves Limavady as one of two teams – Portadown the other – yet to register a Premiership point with the Roesiders losing their first four matches.

"It has been a great few weeks for us, we've really upped our levels, particularly in defence we've been very solid,” added Robinson. “We knew it would be a very difficult game and once we got the first goal it settled us down a bit, but we always needed a second to kill the game off.

"We defended well, they didn't create a big pile, and I thought we ran out comfortable enough winners.

"Once you get Leo and Kealo (Kealan Dillon) over a free-kick from 25 yards out you're always thinking one of them will hit the target and they have an opportunity to score.

"We didn't know who is going to hit it so I'm sure the opposition goalkeeper didn't either, Leo produced the goods again and it was good to get off to that start.”