It was unlucky 13 for Linfield as Dungannon Swifts upset the odds to bring the Blues’ 12-game unbeaten Premiership run to a shuddering halt.
The form book was turned on its head at Stangmore Park where Dungannon, without a win in seven matches, stunned the league leaders.
A first half goal from Jamie Douglas proved the difference as Swifts claimed only their third ever Premiership victory against David Jeffrey’s side.
And no-one could argue with the outcome, least of all the Linfield manager, after his side were outplayed for large periods of the game.
The Blues had not lost in the league since a 2-0 defeat at Crusaders in August, and would have expected to stretch that run to 13 games against Dungannon.
But they rarely looked like turning this match around once Douglas scored.
Swifts boss Darren Murphy made four changes to his side, including a full debut for teenager Kris Lowe, and got the reaction he wanted.
They produced one of their best performances in recent memory to halt the Blues’ juggernaut and claim their first league victory since September.
While Douglas will grab the headlines with his winning strike, this was a highly impressive all-round team performance.
An assured defensive display, led by the outstanding Dermot McCaffrey and supported by the midfield four, provided the platform.
The only goal came in the 37thminute, with Dungannon finally benefitting from some long overdue good fortune.
Cameron Grieve started a counter-attack with the ball finding its way forward via Matt Hazley and then Johnny Topley. It eventually reached Douglas whose effort deflected off Kyle McVey, taking it over the goalkeeper and into the net.
Prior to that, the best chance of a first half short on clear chances had fallen to Linfield.
Jim Ervin slipped a pass inside to Brian McCaul, and his effort was creeping into the net before being tipped on to the crossbar by Niall Morgan.
The goalkeeper did not get the credit for a fine save, however, with the linesman – part of a Latvian refereeing contingent taking part in an exchange programme – awarding a goal kick.
Before the game Murphy had warned his players to be wary of a strong Linfield start, but the visitors struggled to land shots on target.
Aaron Burns had two early efforts, shooting wide of the near post before seizing a poor pass from Morgan, cutting inside and firing narrowly over.
Dungannon’s first chance of note came in the 27th minute. A clever flick from Darren Boyce played in David McCullough but his touch took the ball wide, with the final effort not troubling the goalkeeper.
Most of their work in the first half was focused on defending, with Linfield enjoying the majority of possession.
However, Morgan wasn’t overly troubled and when Douglas scored, few could say it was against the run of play.
Indeed Dungannon had chances to stretch their lead either side of half-time.
First Jonathan Tuffey got a strong hand to prevent a cross-shot from Douglas creeping inside the far post. Then soon after the restart a kick-out found its way through to Boyce, but the goalkeeper was quickly off his line to thwart the striker.
At the other end Andy Waterworth had a rare chance when he took a pass, turned sharply but directed his shot just wide of the top left-hand corner.
Jeffrey introduced former Swifts striker Mark McAllister as he chased an equaliser, but the bigger problem was in midfield where the Blues lacked creativity.
It was only in the final 15 minutes when the visitors really threatened.
Morgan darted out to prevent Philip Lowry converting Jamie Mulgrew’s pass, then brilliantly denied Conor McMenamin from close range with his left foot.
Perhaps Linfield sensed it would not be their day when McCaul missed a great chance late on.
Ervin sent in a deep cross to pick out the player, but his header back across goal narrowly missed the target, much to the frustration of Jeffrey on the touchline.
DGN SWIFTS: Morgan, Grieve, Lowe (Brennan, 82), McCaffrey, McMinn, Hazley (S Lavery 77), Topley, Hutchinson, Douglas, Boyce, McCullough
Subs not used: Fitzpatrick, Harpur, C Lavery
LINFIELD: Tuffey, McVey, Waterworth, Lowry, BJ Burns (Ervin, 21), A Burns, Ward, Clarke (McMenamin, 75), Tipton (McAllister, 55), Mulgrew, McCaul
Subs not used: Knowles, Glendinning
Referee: Vadims Direktorenko (Latvia)