SPFL

Sunday 12th December 2021
Celtic Park. Glasgow
K.O. 3pm



CELTIC 1-0 MOTHERWELL
Scorer: Rogic (45+3)


With injuries taking a toll Celtic were left without a recognised striker for the game with Motherwell. Kyogo, Jota, Giakoumakis and Ajeti were all missing from action and left Ange Postecoglou no option but to use David Turnbull in the number 9 role.

A 1-0 win would be enough to see the Hoops take three points and importantly another clean sheet and it was about as comfortable a 1-0 win as you will see. The breakthrough came on 45+2 when Turnbull delivered a free kick low ball along the deck to be met by Rogic who swept it home.

Celtic could have been three ahead by then but Liam Kelly in the Well goal had a man of the match performance and that cannot be ignored. He was called into action as early as the 4th minute when Callum McGregor managed to dig the ball out from under his feet. He slipped through to a running Forrest in the box taking out three defenders. Jamesy looked certain to score as he put it to the right corner but Kelly got down to save with his feet to put it wide.



On 7 minutes Abada on the edge of the Well box spread the ball to Juranovic on the right, he passed first time across the goal and found Tom Rogic. He pulled the trigger and was heading for goal only to see McGarvey block to put it over the bar.

Celtic we’re looking fluent with slick passing and movement and Motherwell did very well to stand tall. The Lanarkshire men were also a credit going forward with Tony Watt pulling their strings. On 13 minutes Celtic had an excellent passage of play that saw Turnbull on the ground inside the box and he managed to flick the ball up and over two Motherwell defenders but Juranovic could only volley over.



Motherwell went straight up the pitch and were unfortunate not to take the lead. Slattery received the ball on the edge of Celtic’s box, he took two touches and curled a rasping shot that just licked off the crossbar and out. A few minutes later another Celtic injury arrived in the shape of Forrest who was replaced by Mikey Johnston. Forrest had pulled up after a short burst sprint with the ball.



Tony Watt came close to scoring but he only managed to put it across the face of Hart’s goal from a tight angle. Hart came to Celtic’s rescue only a minute later with a double save. Goss got a shot away that deflected off Carter-Vickers and Hart had to stretch full length for a one handed stop. Two Motherwell players awaited the rebound but Hart stayed grounded and lay large to block the second attempt.

On 33 minutes Johnston made in from the left and made room to strike a shot that hit the side netting. McGregor then saw a shot blocked by Goss that fell kindly for Turnbull. He placed a curling shot that deflected and Liam Kelly acrobatically stopped the goal with a one handed save. Celtic were not letting up.

As half time loomed Juranovic saw a shot deflected agonisingly past the post but the goal arrived one minute later (45+2). Callum Slattery was issued a yellow for a foul on the left side of the box. Turnbull stepped up and was directed by McGregor who became the decoy for Turnbull to pass the ball to a running Tom Rogic. He sweeped it home past two defenders and the keeper to put the Celts ahead.



In the first few minutes of the second half Turnbull saw his header smash off the crossbar but was called offside for Abada. Rogic was then thwarted again by Kelly when Oz tried to squeeze it past the post. As the half played out the Hoops had several shots at goal. Rogic blazed over a few times, Johnston header saved and a Taylor snapshot saved.

It should have been more comfortable and in the last ten minutes it was tense but Celtic tend to make hard work for themselves at times. In 88 minutes Watt broke through but was called offside. Abada then dragged his shot wide of the post a minute later. The result was well deserved at the end to earn three points to keep the pressure on Rangers and another clean sheet as the defense is also taking shape.



There were some decent performances with the obvious being Rogic and McGregor. Juranović, Turnbull and Bitton were also excellent and a special shout to Anthony Ralston who came on with 12 minutes to go. He replaced Johnston who in turn had replaced an injured Forrest. Ralston looked like he had been playing the whole game.


MOTM: Liam Kelly. For the amount of times he single handedly saved Motherwell from a much heavier defeat. He was excellent and maintained his concentration throughout. Otherwise for Celtic it was the Wizard of Oz again.


LINEUPS:

CELTIC: Hart, Juranović, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Taylor, Rogic, Bitton, McGregor, Abada, Turnbull, Forrest. SUBS: McCarthy, Johnston, Bain, Shaw, Henderson, Ralston, Welsh. (4-3-3)


MOTHERWELL: Kelly, O’Donnell, Mugabi, Carroll, McGinley, Slattery, Maguire, Goss, Woolery, Van Veen, Watt. SUBS: Fox, Nwogu, Cornelius, Donnelly, Grimshaw, Roberts, Shields. (4-3-3)




REF WATCH:

Euan Anderson. Totally clueless and looked like it.

(4) Kelly made an excellent save with an outstretched leg from Forrest. Goal kick awarded instead of corner.

(6) Carter-Vickers fouled by two Well players. Throw in for Motherwell.

(23) Mugabi throws Rogic to the ground for a really cynical foul that was a yellow card all day. Quiet word had with Mugabi.

(24) Motherwell player obviously offside in the Celtic box. No flag raised.

(25) Motherwell gained a throw in that was Celtic’s.

(42) Ref so petty to call a Celtic free kick back to be retaken for sake of a yard. Motherwell had been gaining yards from throw-ins.

(55) Handball from O’Donnell in Motherwell box. Nothing given.

(69) Taylor takes a touch from corner for Turnbull. Ref wants it taken again as he didn’t know what was going on.


POSSESSION: Celtic 71% Motherwell 29%

SHOTS: Celtic 26 - 9 Motherwell

SHOTS ON TARGET: Celtic 7 - 1 Motherwell

PASSES: Celtic 611 - 242 Motherwell

COMPLETION: Celtic 85% Motherwell 56%



By Packybhoy