Linfield produced a dogged 1-0 victory over Crusaders to extend their lead to four points at the top of the Sports Direct Irish Premiership.
Defender Euan East scored his third goal of the season, in first-half injury-time, to claim all three points for the south Belfast side.
On a crisp night in the north of the city, it was Linfield who dominated early possession, dragging Baxter’s men from left to right but without a clinical edge.
In fact, both sides lacked a penetrating attack in early exchanges, and it was 19 minutes before either goalkeeper was called into action.
It was the hosts who came close. A corner to the back post was partially cleared before BJ Burns got control of the ball before laying it back to Paul Heatley on the edge of the area. The winger produced a low drive that drew a superb save from Chris Johns at his near post.
This seemed to spur the Crues onto the front foot and just four minutes later Heatley was at it again with another drilled effort from 20 yards that again had Johns at full stretch.
As possession ebbed and flowed, Linfield had their first meaningful effort on the half-hour mark. A corner from the right had Jordan Owens making a headed clearance that failed miserably and fell to the feet of playmaker Kirk Millar, whose shot from 10 yards forced a superb goalline clearance from Josh Robinson.
Thereafter, Linfield snatched back control of proceedings, with captain Jamie Mulgrew rolling back the years with some superb footwork, and on the stroke of half-time the pressure told.
A corner from the right ricocheted to the feet of the impressive East, who pivoted with his back to goal to fire into the bottom left-hand corner of Jonny Tuffey’s goal from eight yards to the delight of the travelling supporters.
The second period was a war of attrition with neither side managing to penetrate the other’s final third.
Jordan Forsythe had an opportunity to draw Crusaders level on 66 minutes but headed over the bar from 12 yards when he should have done better.
Linfield’s best chance came in the 87th minute, when East again found himself unmarked at the back post but couldn’t direct his shot on target, instead blazing high.
The Blues managed to hang on for another uneventful but highly-efficient victory over another top-six side to boost their chances of regaining the Gibson Cup.
Crusaders Tuffey; Burns, Weir (Lowry 68), Forsythe, O’Rourke, Owens (Lecky 68); Larmour, Robinson, Heatley, Clarke (Teelan 85), Anderson (Kennedy 85).
Subs Williamson, Lowry, Lecky, Kennedy, Teelan, Boyd, James.
Linfield Johns; Finlayson, East, Millar (O’Brien 69), McClean, Hall; Clarke, Mulgrew, Fitzpatrick, Annett (McKee 60), Archer
Subs Walsh; Newberry, McBrien, McKee, McKay, Doherty, Graham.
