David Jeffrey was delighted by his team's display at Ballyskeagh

Johnny Harkness' sending off was David Jeffrey's only complaint after his side had beaten Lisburn Distillery to move top of the JJB Sports Premiership.

The Blues boss was "bitterly disappointed" by the defender's second yellow card which ensured an early bath on 71 minutes.

"Johnny is a very aggressive and tenacious player but it was a fair, fair tackle," said Jeffrey.

"It's a man's game and Johnny made clear contact with the ball."

Jeffrey added:"It was a very strong and robust challenge and if we are going to start taking those tackles out of the game, as I heard Mark Lawrenson saying at the weekend, then we might as well stop all physical contact."

But Harkness' dismissal apart, the Blues boss was delighted with his evening's work as the defending champions won 2-1 to move to the top of the table.

"I told the players before the start of the game that we were playing the team at the top of the table and we had to go there and match them. We did that very well."

Jeffrey also lauded the display of veteran striker Glenn Ferguson, who hit both Blues goals.

I don't think we're that far away Lisburn Distillery manager Paul Kirk

"I'm running out of superlatives. What does amaze me is the incredible desire that he has to get on the end of things.

"His technical ability is never in question but his all-round work for the team is superb.

"Both his goals were absolutely exquisite and I'm just delighted that he's still playing to the level and standard that he is."

Lisburn Distillery boss Paul Kirk took plenty of positives despite his team's defeat.

"I don't think we're that far away," Kirk told BBC Sport.

"We gave a good account of ourselves and we made Linfield work very hard for those points.

"I think we're good enough to get right in there (at the top of the table)."