It ends Well for Celts. Motherwell 0-2 Celtic 16/10/2021

SPFL


MOTHERWELL 0-2 CELTIC

Scorers: Jota (17) Turnbull (52)


Saturday 16th October 2021

Fir Park, Motherwell K.O. 3pm



Back to domestic duty today and a very tricky trip to Fir Park and a Motherwell team who have been in form of late and a point ahead of Celtic in the table. Just two changes were made to the starting team that beat Aberdeen in a hard fought victory at Pittodrie before the International break, Out went young Montgomery and Bitton to make way for Bolingoli and Rogic. There was also a place on the subs bench for the tricky Mikey Johnson after a start stop to his season so far.


This game was going to require bottle and a bit of temperament thrown in for the Bhoys to better their position in sixth place as Motherwell had won three home games on the bounce and, as we know, are no mugs. It was Motherwell who started positively with their first attack in 7 minutes when Starfelt was rounded by Tony Watt who put the ball across the face of the goal only to see Tony Ralston put it wide. From the Well corner Celtic broke away when Turnbull picked it up on the half way line and he went marauding forward but shot wide of the left post.



The first 15 minutes of the game was lively but with both teams trying to gain a foothold it was up and down the park until the breakthrough arrived in 17 minutes. Another break out from the Celtic defence and Rogic picked it up on the half way line. He moved forward and spotted the run into the box by Jota where he bent a precision pass which the little Portuguese rifled past the goalie to make it 0-1. This ignited the desire in green and white shirts and we began moving the ball around with intent and pressing higher up forcing Well into mistakes. By 20 minutes Celtic were 75% total possession.



Whilst The Celts were adding pressure and making good use of the ball the letdown was mainly from crosses into the box and main offender was Liel Abada who was hitting it too high or too heavy and is something that needs to be worked on in training. Three players for Celtic were catching the eye with their forward drives, Rogic, McGregor and Jota and it was the latter who caught a lovely volley only to screw its down into the ground where it rose rapidly over the crossbar. Big Tom was also receiving more than his fair share of attention and rough tactics by the Motherwell players and particularly Mugabe.



The game was called to a halt for five minutes when referee Willie Collum pulled up with an injury and had to be replaced. Such a sad occurrence for the game as a whole as Mr Collum’s experience and impartiality would be missed, especially by the Celtic support. Although Celtic continued to dominate, the stoppage only succeeded in slowing the game down and taking the sting out of it until half time was blown with the added on time.


The Hoops began the second half with urgency and should have been two up in 47 minutes. Tony Ralston played a lovely ball across the face of goal only to see Jota at the back post put it over the bar. A couple of minutes later and big Ralston was in the mix again when he struck sweetly from the edge of the box but Keeper Liam Kelly held firmly. Motherwell broke away themselves and saw Watt blaze it over on 50 minutes but it was Celtic who scored next (52) and what a cracking goal it was. David Turnbull, who had been quiet, hit a rocket of a shot from 25 yards out, on the left, that went screaming into the top right corner over the Keeper.



Celtic had another chance to pull away further when Ralston played another lovely weighted pass to Kyogo who put the ball across an empty goal but no takers in the box. Ange Postecoglou decided to freshen things up in 73 minutes and introduced Giakoumakis for Abada and Bitton for the brilliant Tom Rogic in a double substitution. The last sub came in 81 minutes when Mikey Johnston was introduced for Kyogo. The fresh legs seemed to make the desired effect as Johnson and Giakoumakis both had decent cameos and the Greek striker is a big lad. Celtic were now pulling Motherwell all over their last third and had a few more chances. Jota hit the postage stamp of the crossbar and Johnston fizzed wide of the left post in the dying minutes of the game.



This was a great day all round for the Hoops. A win away at a tricky opponent making it two wins on the bounce and a clean sheet. On 85 minutes the Celtic fans were jumping with joy at the news of a last minute equaliser for Hearts against the rangers at Ibrox to see the deficit now cut down to 4 points behind the leaders. We also leapfrog Motherwell and Hibs to take up 4th position in the table. What was most promising was the performance by the players today and a much needed improvement in defence to take into the game against Ferencvaros at Celtic Park on Tuesday but much more important is next weekend’s fixture at home to St. Johnstone.


LINEUPS:


MOTHERWELL: Kelly, O’Donnell, Mugabi, Ojala, McGinley, Grimshaw, Slattery, Goss, Roberts, Watt, Woolery. Subs: Carroll, O’Hara, Van Veen, Fox, Amaluzor, Solhom Johansen, Donnelly.
(4-3-3)

CELTIC: Hart, Ralston, Cameron-Vickers, Starfelt, Bolingoli, McGregor, Rogic, Turnbull, Abada, Kyogo, Jota. Subs: Scales, Bitton, Giakoumakis, Ajeti, Johnston, Bain, Welsh.
(4-3-3)


MOTM: Jota & Rogic


POSSESSION: Motherwell 24% - 76% Celtic


SHOTS: Motherwell 5 - 18 Celtic


SHOTS ON TARGET: Motherwell 0 - 7 Celtic



By: Packybhoy