'Happy to be heading down the road with three points' - Healy

Linfield manager David Healy expressed satisfaction at coming away with a 3-1 victory over Portadown on a difficult playing surface at Shamrock Park.

Joel Cooper found the net three times in the first 26 minutes to set the Blues on their way to victory and help them establish a 15-point cushion over nearest pursuers Dungannon Swifts at the summit of the Irish Premiership table.

"I thought we were clinical in the first half. Any time you come here and play Portadown you're happy to be heading down the road again with the maximum three points," Healy told BBC Sport NI after the game.

The Ports fought back in the second half but in the end could only manage a solitary reply in the form of Tabu Rabby Minzama's second-half goal.

"Knowing the manager Niall [Currie] is we knew he was always going to get some reaction out of his players and we maybe stepped off it a bit," added the Blues boss.

"Portadown kept at it and in the second half we had a spell where we had a little bit of a wobble.

"We let them back into the game through a poorly defended corner but we are pleased with the outcome, pleased with the three points.

"It's a really difficult pitch to play on and I thought overall we managed the game alright."