Michael Halliday (right) celebrates his goal with Gary Hamilton

Glentoran deserved their victory as they created the majority of the chances against the off-form Blues.

Glenn Ferguson had a couple of Blues efforts blocked but Kyle Neill missed the best first-half chance.

Colin Nixon then hit the Blues woodwork but Halliday finally broke the deadlock by heading the winner on 66 minutes.

Glenn Ferguson went close to scoring his 500th career goal in the third minute but Glens goalkeeper Elliott Morris moved smartly to turn the former Northern Ireland striker's free-kick out for a corner.

But the Glens were inches away from taking the lead on five minutes when Gary Hamilton's inviting cross just needed a toe-poke to the empty net but David Scullion was unable to get the connection.

With neither defence looking assured, chances were coming at both ends and Glentoran's Sean Ward did brilliantly to block successive efforts from Ferguson and Jamie Mulgrew.

However, Glentoran took a stranglehold on the contest for the remainder of the first half.

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The impressive Hamilton had a 14th-minute effort superbly saved by Mannus while Halliday was then presented with a great chance only to attempt a pass to Daryl Fordyce before the ball was cleared.

Kyle Neill then missed a glorious chance on 20 minutes by blazing wide from close range after a great ball from Hamilton.

The Glens continued to play the better football during the remainder of the first half and David Jeffrey must have been relieved to see his Linfield team go in level at the interval.

Paul McAreavey's introduction for Mark Dickson did give the Blues a better shape after the break.

But the majority of the chances continued to fall to the Glens with Scullion wasting an opportunity on 50 minutes after his poor first touch enabled Pat McShane to put in an effective challenge.

On the hour, Peter Thompson's flicked-header tested Morris but seconds later Colin Nixon struck the Blues woodwork from close-range after a Neill free-kick.

Linfield's Jamie Mulgrew challenges Glentoran's Philip Carson

The Glens took their deserved lead on 66 minutes with Halliday floating a header past Mannus after Neill's cross.

Right from the kick-off, Thompson hit the outside of the Glens woodwork with a header from a tight angle.

However, the Glens continued to look the better side and Neill squandered two chances to make the game safe.

Firstly, Neill's weak effort was cleared off the line by Stephen Douglas after the Linfield defender's clearance had been blocked by the Glentoran player.

Neill's second pointblank chance was superbly saved by Mannus although the Linfield goalkeeper shouldn't have been given any opportunity to make the stop.

Predictably, Linfield tried to press in the closing stages and the Blues did cause a few nervous moments in the Glentoran defence.

But the Glens held on for a deserved win which moves them four points behind leaders Cliftonville and within two points of the Blues.

The win was Glentoran's first victory in a Boxing Day clash against the Blues in 18 years.