Coleraine returned to the top of the Irish Premiership table with a convincing 5-0 win over 10-man Crusaders at Seaview.

The home side had defender Scot Rough sent off after just 11 minutes and were made to pay by a confident away side.

Ben Wylie opened the scoring with his first goal of the campaign inside the opening quarter before Senan Devine doubled the lead after half an hour.

Captain Joel Cooper made it 3-0 just before half-time and the game was over as a contest shortly after the restart when Jacob Blaney put through his own net.

There was just enough time for Adam Brooks to score his first goal for the club since his summer move from Crusaders to complete a satisfactory day for the Bannsiders

Coleraine began on the front foot and had already threatened the Crusaders goal before the hosts were reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of Rough.

The big Scottish defender went in heavy on Wylie in front of the dugout and referee Shane Andrews had no hesitation in producing the red card.

The visitors made full use of the extra man, opening the scoring minutes later through Wylie.

Devine, back in the starting line-up, fed the midfielder, who took one touch to control the ball before firing low past Shea Callister.

Devine went from provider to goalscorer when he doubled his side's lead with a wonderful strike from distance, giving the Crusaders goalkeeper no chance.

It was 3-0 just before the break when Matthew Shevlin and Ben Doherty combined to present a chance for Cooper, who swept the ball home from 12 yards for his fifth of the season.

The Bannsiders stretched their lead seven minutes after the restart, the unfortunate Blaney putting through his own goal after Finn Tonks' corner deceived everyone in the worsening conditions.

And there was still time for Brooks - the striker who left Crusaders in a big money move in the summer - to net his first goal for his new club, getting on the end of a Lewis McGregor cross to score in the dying minutes.

It's now four wins in a row for the table toppers and a fourth loss in succession for the Crues.

Coleraine head coach Ruaidhri Higgins: "It was a really good result for us. No doubt the red card gave us a huge advantage in the game, but we took huge advantage of that.

"It's been a good ground for us over the past 15 months and we're delighted with the win. I'm really happy with some of our play and we kept a clean sheet on a horrendous day weather wise.

"We scored three brilliant team goals in the first half and I'm just really pleased with our application in the game, the professionalism and how we went about it.

"I'm also delighted for Adam Brooks to get his first goal. He's got brilliant movement to find space in the box and that'll be the first of many I'm sure."

Crusaders head coach Declan Caddell: "I'm disappointed with the scoreline but not disappointed with what the players gave me.

"I thought we started the game well in the opening 10 minutes but the sending off has killed us. It's the last thing you want, especially playing a team like Coleraine, especially so early in the game.

"It was an uphill battle after that but I thought the players left everything on the pitch. That's all I can ask and that's all the supporters ask for.

"I thought it was a red card. Scot's come in at pace with both players going for the ball but you can't tackle like that any more.

"When I played it was probably a yellow but in today's game it's a red card."