Linfield leapfrogged Coleraine at the top of the Irish Premiership and sent out a statement of intent with a comprehensive 3-0 win over their rivals at Windsor Park.

On-loan Bohemians winger Rhys Brennan fired the hosts in front three minutes before half-time with his third goal of the season.

Fellow winger Adam Frizzell doubled the lead shortly after the restart with his third of the campaign.

The points were secure with 18 minutes remaining when Kitt Nelson jinked his way past a number of defenders before firing into an empty net for a fine solo goal.

The victory sees Linfield move a point clear at the summit and complete an early season double over the Bannsiders following September's 3-1 success at the Showgrounds.

Coleraine threatened first after an even opening quarter through former Linfield favourite Joel Cooper.

The Bannsiders skipper was allowed to cut in off the right onto his favoured left and send a low shot towards goal.

It looked for all the world as if it was heading for the bottom corner, only for Linfield goalkeeper Chris Johns to dive to his right and direct the shot around his post.

Brennan gave an indication of his attacking threat minutes later when he skipped past Aidan Wilson, only for Coleraine goalkeeper Lewis Webb to get down low to save.

He wasn't to be denied a second time as he nipped in front of his marker to get on the end of a Matthew Fitzpatrick cross and apply a deft lifted finish over Webb.

The hosts began the second half on the front foot and they duly doubled their lead eight minutes after the restart.

Ben Wylie coughed up possession inside the Linfield half allowing the Blues to launch a lightning fast counter attack.

The ball was quickly transferred to Frizzell, who took a touch before drilling low past Webb.

Linfield made it 3-0 with a little under 20 minutes remaining thanks to a wonderful individual effort from Nelson.

The winger collected the ball near the touchline before waltzing past a number of despairing challenges and planting the ball low into an empty net to complete a memorable evening for the Blues.

Linfield head coach David Healy: "Take anything away from the performance or anything else, winning the game was most important tonight. How you do it, sometimes it doesn't matter, but I thought tonight we were good.

"I thought tactically we were very good - with and without the ball - which, when you play against a team of the level of Coleraine, individually and collectively, sometimes you need to be at your best.

"I still think there's more left in this group with the pace, the legs and the energy they've got. I thought we retained the ball well at certain stages and then scored some good goals, well-worked goals at important stages of the game."

Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins: "I'm gutted, really gutted. I think the first 40 minutes there was nothing in the game and the first goal's pathetic really from our point of view.

"We start the second half so poorly and on the back foot. We couldn't get out and then going from a possible equalising opportunity and within 30 seconds it's in the back of our net and it's 2-0.

"It's extremely frustrating. I should have been better at half-time in the changing room tweaking things I didn't like but I'll take it on the chin.

"There's things tonight that I certainly got wrong and it's important that I self reflect as well and learn from it. It's the basics of the game - similar to last week - and we have to have more desire defending our own box."