Irish Premiership: Institute 0-1 Linfield

Aaron Burns heads the only goal as second-placed Linfield win 1-0 away to bottom club Institute in the Irish Premiership.

Linfield kept up their pursuit of league leaders Crusaders by beating basement club Institute at Drumahoe.

Aaron Burns scored the decisive goal with a back-post header from a Ross Clarke corner in the 41st minute.

The Blues had other chances during a largely uninspiring game, Jamie Mulgrew blasting straight at Marty Gallagher, who also saved well from Sammy Morrow.

Andrew Waterworth drilled a shot narrowly wide but Warren Feeney's side stay six points behind the pacesetters.

Institute remain rooted to the foot of the table, four points behind Warrenpoint Town, after 19 games without a top-flight victory.

Burns tested Gallagher early on with an angled drive, before Waterworth fired well over.

Sustained Linfield pressure eventually saw Burns grab his 17th goal of the season to give his side the lead at the interval.

After the break, Robbie Hume fired a free-kick straight at Jonny Tuffey, while Ross Clarke also went close.

Linfield manager Warren Feeney: "It wasn't pretty but we won and kept a clean sheet so I'm going home happy.

"Institute are fighting for their lives while we are challenging for the title. We'll keep fighting - all the pressure is on the Crues, we just have to stay in it."