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3 points in the bag as Celts now focus on Europe

Discussion in 'TalkCeltic News' started by Callum McGregor, Oct 15, 2016.

By Callum McGregor on Oct 15, 2016 at 8:30 PM
  1. Callum McGregor The Captain Gold Member

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    3 points in the bag as Celts now focus on Europe

    Celtic defeat Motherwell with a goal in each half.
    Scottish Premiership
    Celtic Park, Glasgow
    Saturday, October 15, 2016


    CELTIC
    - 2
    (Sinclair 18, Dembele 87pen.)


    MOTHERWELL
    - 0

    [​IMG]
    An easy victory for Celtic in a match they dominated. Were it not for the woodwork and Samson, the Motherwell goalkeeper, Celtic would have scored more. The victory kept the Hoops at the top of the table by a margin of 4 points, to continue the march to 6 in a row and Brendan Rodgers' first league title.

    Celtic academy player, Liam Henderson was awarded his first start of the season, in the middle of the pitch with fellow Edinburgh boy, club captain Scott Brown. This was one of three changes made by the Hoops boss as Cristian Gamboa replaced the injured Lustig at right back and Stuart Armstrong started ahead of the jet lagged Tom Rogic.

    Celtic were passing the ball around crisply at the beginning of the match, with their first chance coming from Liam Henderson, putting the ball wide into the side netting. Shortly after this, Armstrong
    had a shot deflected narrowly wide.

    Around the 15 minute mark, Moussa Dembele had his first shot on goal when Tierney played in a ball to him, before Dembele opened up his body and fired a curved shot towards the top right corner of the goal, with the Well goalie parrying it wide.

    It wasn't long after this that Celtic got the breakthrough. Scott Sinclair received a low driving ball into the box from James Forrest and Sinclair swept the ball into the net to put the Celts 1-0 up.

    Celtic continued to press and create chances, but no goals were forthcoming. The best of these chances came from Kieran Tierney. Winning the ball on the left throw line, he darted in between the Motherwell defence with fancy footwork to create a chance on goal, only for his shot to crash off the bar. Goal of the season material, if it had went in.

    Scott Brown had another attempt on goal to double the Hoops' lead, early on in the second half, but a fine save from Sammon denied him. The Well 'keeper also managed to save Dembele's shot on the rebound.

    On the hour mark, Rodgers' made two changes. Leigh Griffiths and Patrick Roberts were brought on for Gamboa and Armstrong, in search of a second goal, due to the slim margin in the scoreline.

    Celtic's domination was obvious but Sammon saved a Forrest shot, while ex-Celtic captain Stephen McManus blocked Sinclair to keep the score at 1-0. However, Sammon's postitive performance was let down by fouling Dembele in the box for a Celtic penalty.

    Dembele cooly slotted the penalty into the back of the net, scoring his 13th goal of the season in the process.

    Celtic will now turn their focus to the UEFA Champions League game against German side Borussia Monchengladbach. With the game being a Celtic Park, the Hoops will see the game as their best opportunity to get a win on the board in this difficult Champions League group. Having restored some pride against English champions Manchester City, the Celtic support look on with optimism and hope in their heart.

    CELTIC (4-2-3-1) Gordon; Gamboa (Griffiths 61), Simunovic, Sviatchenko, Tierney; Brown, Henderson; Forrest (Toure 84), Armstrong, (Roberts 61) Sinclair; Dembele.

    Not Used: De Vries, Izaguirre, Christie, McGregor

    MOTHERWELL (4-4-2) Samson; Tait, Heneghan,McManus, McMillan (Ferguson 58); Cadden, Lasley, Clay, McLean (Hastie 79); McDonald (Bowman 46), Moult.

    Not Used: Brill, Ainsworth, Kennedy, Campbell
     
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