Aidan O'Kane is congratulated by Peter Thompson and Michael Gault

Aidan O'Kane got two of the goals and defender Andrew Hunter the other as the Belfast Blues stretched their unbeaten league run to 33 matches.

O'Kane got the opener on 24 minutes and Hunter's deflected shot made it 2-0.

A penalty from O'Kane made it three before Barry Curran headed in for Coleraine and Michael Gault got Linfield's fourth.

Coleraine, who were unchanged after Jody Tolan passed a fitness test, were undone by some poor defending.

Keeper O'Hare was furious with his defence for not closing down O'Kane who was allowed to shoot in from a tight angle on the right for the opener.

The Bannsiders could have equalised when a bad backpass by Stephen Douglas left Sean Armstrong through. He was held up by good work by Hunter and when the ball fell to Tolan he lofted it over the bar.

Ferguson then set up Hunter from a short free on the edge of the box and the defender's shot was deflected past the unlucky O'Hare on 45 minutes.

O'Kane made it 3-0 with a 56th minute penalty after a foul on Gault by Stewart Clanachan.

A looping header by Curran on 84 minutes got Coleraine on the scoresheet but then Gault got Linfield's fourth just a minute later.

The only disappointment for Linfield was an injury to William Murphy who was stretchered off with a bad head injury.

"I am sick to the pit of my stomach. It was a really awful blow," said Blues boss David Jeffrey.

"Darren Murphy went up for the ball and William came in behind him and headed Darren with all the force he would head the ball.

"He gave himself a terrible blow and was out cold. It has taken the gloss off the victory."

Daily Mirror Irish Premier League
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