 Keith Mulvenna scored Cliftonville's equaliser |
Linfield dropped their first points of the season when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Cliftonville at Solitude. The Blues had led thanks to Peter Thompson's 18th-minute finish from a lay-off from Glenn Ferguson.
Cliftonville equalised through Keith Mulvenna who headed in from a Sean Friars corner on 31 minutes.
The Reds ended the match down to 10 men as skipper Liam Fleming was dismissed late in the game for picking up his second yellow card.
Fleming was cautioned for stealing ground at a free-kick and, when referee Stephen Weatherall realised he has already booked the defender, the red card was produced.
There were a number of ill-tempered clashes in the game and Cliftonville's Keith Mulvenna could be in trouble for goading Linfield manager David Jeffrey straight after the equaliser.
Linfield striker Glenn Ferguson said they were disappointed not to have extended their winning run.
"We felt we had enough chances to win the game but they threw bodies at everything so it was difficult for us," said Ferguson.
"Having gone in front we felt we should be able to hold on.
"But we conceded another from a set piece and the boss will not be pleased because we had been working on that."
Irish Premier League
Cliftonville 1-1 Linfield
Coleraine 1-1 Portadown
Glenavon 1-0 Ards
Glentoran 2-0 Armagh City
Institute 3-3 Dungannon Swifts
Larne 2-2 Limavady United
Loughgall 1-0 Ballymena United
Newry City 0-3 Lisburn Distillery
MMIX
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