Celts stroll to top of the league


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Celtic v Motherwell
SPFL
21st January 2015
KO: 19:45
Celtic Park

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Celtic made one change from their comfortable victory at Hamilton on Saturday afternoon, as they brought in recently injured Anthony Stokes to replace youngster Liam Henderson.

Celtic emerged quickly as they dominated the first few minutes of the game. In the 3rd minute Leigh Griffiths saw a shot fly past the post. However the Scotsman couldn't beat the trap and was rightly flagged offside.

On 5 minutes, Stefan Johansen was closed down quickly by the Motherwell defence. The Norwegian saw a shot glide wide of the post, as Celtic looked to pile the pressure on the Lanarkshire side early on.

Celtic continued to dominate the match, as Commons won a free kick on the edge of the box. However Anthony Stokes, who came back in to the team after injury smashed the ball past the wall, but unfortunately past the Motherwell goalkeeper's post.

As the game went on, Celtic grew stronger and Motherwell couldn't get a sniff of the ball. The Celtic team went on to dominate in the Motherwell half and played some of the best football they've played this season, as Kris Commons seen a shot from 22 yards fizz over the crossbar.

Inevitably the deadlock was broken, and it came from the Dutch defender Virgil Van Dijk. Anthony Stokes swung a a ball in from wide and the Dutchman headed the ball in to the Motherwell goal to put the champions 1-0 up.

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Virgil opens the scoring with a header. Celtic 1-0 Motherwell
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The champions were in pole position and continued to dominate the match. There was only one team in the game and there was no doubts about what the outcome was going to be. And on 42 minutes Celtic more or less put the game to bed. Irishman Anthony Stokes was involved again as he whipped a left footed cross into Leigh Griffiths, and the striker put Celtic a comfortable 2-0 up as Stokes grabbed his second assist of the game.

No chances came after the second goal for the champions and they went in to the interval two goals to the good.

The second half saw the arrival of Swedish full back - Mikael Lustig, as he replaced Adam Matthews. Only one minute in to the second half and Celtic continued to dominate in the Motherwell half, as Stokes, Izaguirre and Commons linked up well with captain Scott Brown, who eventually volleyed the ball over the Motherwell crossbar.

On 48 minutes Motherwell created their first clear cut chance of the game, as Reid set Thomas up in the box, but the midfielder saw his shot fly past Craig Gordon's post. And Celtic still stood two goals to the good.

The Hoops continued to control the game, as Kris Commons saw a further two shots go wide of the goal. Norweigan midfielder Stefan Johansen came closer, as he cracked the cross bar with a header from an Emilio Izaguirre cross. But the Glasgow side who had been comfortable for the majority of the game continued to batter the Motherwell door.

After arguably putting in a man of the match performance, Anthony Stokes made way for James Forrest. It's fair to say that James Forrest is an injury riddled player, as the Scottish winger hasn't played more than 4 and a half consecutive matches due to niggling injuries.

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Injury prone Forrest comes on for Anthony Stokes

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Celtic smashed the woodwork again, as goalscorer Leigh Griffiths found Emilio Izaguirre who unfortunately hit the Motherwell woodwork.

On 70 minutes a nasty clash between midfielder Johansen and Motherwell player O'Brien saw Ronny Deila take no chances. The Celtic manager with no hesitation put Stefan Scepovic on for the Norwegian player.

On the 75th minute Celtic waved goodnight to their opponents as they went 3-0 up. Swedish substitute Mikael Lustig latched on to a James Forrest pass and slotted the ball in to the Motherwell net. As the Scottish champions sailed to a inevitable victory.

Swedish super sub Lustig sends Celtic into a comfortable lead

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Unbelievably the full back doubled his goal tally for the evening, as he put Celtic 4-0 up against a toiling Motherwell side. The goal came from yet another cross in to the box, this time from Leigh Griffiths and a spectacular diving header from Lustig saw the ball fly in to the back of the net.

Mikael Lustig, who came on in the second half made a credible appeal for man of the match, as the full back almost completed a second half hat-trick. Lustig smashed the crossbar with a first time shot from a Kris Commons freekick.

But the champions who passed the ball very well on the night, settled for a more than comfortable 4-0 victory and took themselves to the top of the league ahead of recent leaders Aberdeen.