| Match Pictures | Matches: 1998 – 1999 | 1998-1999 Pictures |
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Trivia
- It was reported that Dermot Desmond and Tony O’Reilly were waiting in the wings to snap up Fergus’ shares when he came to leave
- There was no further news on the Viduka transfer though Croatia Zagreb did say that they might be prepared to sell players after their Champions League involvement was over.
- The draw was made for the next round of the UEFA Cup. Celtic were drawn against FC Zurich.
- Regi Blinker, Tom Boyd and Phil O'Donnell were all fit.
- A 35 year old Brian McClair was back at Motherwell. John Boyle had just taken over as owner of Motherwell and Pat Nevin had been appointed a playing Chief Executive. Finn Hari Kampmann was the manager and he was as under pressure at Motherwell as Dr Jo was at Celtic.
- The first back-to-back wins since August.
Review
A business-like performance though a lot of misses in front of goal. The win leap-frogged us up to third in the table
Teams
Motherwell (4-4-2): Woods, McMillan, McGowan, Ross, Valakari, McClair (Nevin 70), Coyle, Doesburg, Matthaei, Stirling (Adams 81), Teale.
Subs Not Used: McCulloch, Bannister, Nyyssonen.
Goals: Adams 90.
Celtic (4-4-2): Gould, Boyd , Mahe, Rieper, Stubbs , Larsson, Burley , Brattbakk, Donnelly, Lambert (Hannah 87), Riseth.
Subs Not Used: Jackson, McKinlay, McCondichie, Burchill.
Goals: Brattbakk 29, Lambert 45.
Booked: Mahe, Lambert.
Ref: J McCluskey (Stewarton).
Attendance: 12,103
Articles
- Match Report
Norse code cracks it as Brattbakk gets message
The Scotsman 05/10/1998
Motherwell 1 Adams (90)
Celtic 2 Brattbakk (29), Lambert (45)
GEORGE BEST once boastfully summed up the thinking behind his brilliant European Cup Final goal against Benfica with: "Well, I planned it all the night before so there weren't too many problems."
Few goalscorers today can operate with the help of such an intrinsic arrogant edge but, unbelievably, it emerges that Celtic's Harald Brattbakk has something in common with that Red Devil.
All with the help of his countryman Vidar Riseth, you understand. Brattbakk's first goal since the July strike against St Patrick's Athletic was hatched on Friday night before Celtic played Motherwell at Fir Park.
Riseth said: "It was good for Harald to get that goal. I talked a lot with him before the match. I watched him in the first match when I came here and I know the type of pass he likes to take and the moves that he likes.
"We spoke about it and I said to him to wait and wait and then when he makes a type of turn -which will always take him away from the defender because of his pace – I will play the ball into space behind the defence.
"What we did here was a little bit more like it. In Norway, they always used Harald like that."
Surely it can't be that simple to suddenly make Brattbakk look like a dangerous forward when he goes about his business. The misery of his blunt performances this season was complete last week when it appeared he was one of the players criticised by team-mate Craig Burley for lacking fight for the Celtic battle.
But after Brattbakk sweetly struck home the first goal on Saturday and puffed his cheeks out in relief, Burley came bounding over with a huge grin and playfully ruffled his hair a week after he ruffled his feathers. Brattbakk then underwent quite a transformation. In fact, he turned into Henrik Larsson, dancing his way around Motherwell defenders, then taking out Stevie Woods before Michel Doesburg managed to leap in and clear.
"I think Harald can get better and better now," said Riseth. "He is a guy who, like every striker, needs to score goals and when you score goals the confidence gets better.
"One year back home, I remember Harald went eight or nine games without scoring. Then he got one goal and went on to score 23 that season. He said that he wasn't worried by the recent run. He wanted to fight on and now he's happy."
How it must help to be partnered in attack by Larsson. The cynical view after two brilliant performances against Portuguese opposition was that the Swede was playing for a move.
But he looked just as interested and imperious against Motherwell, producing the flicks, touches and runs that Brian Laudrup had had the exclusive Scottish football rights to for the previous four years.
Paul Lambert steered in the second goal before half time, which the Motherwell manager, Harri Kampman, described as "a killer".
Lambert's return to form would please the Scotland manager, Craig Brown, but he limped out of this game in the closing minutes with a hamstring problem that makes him doubtful for Saturday's Euro 2000 qualifier against Estonia.
The former Manchester United midfielder Brian McClair is toiling to inspire a Motherwell side which, after bright displays against Dundee United and Rangers at Ibrox, has faltered.
Derek Adams, a late substitute, was relieved to score a harmless consolation goal in the dying moments – the first since his transfer from Ross County.
Kampman said: "That was good for Derek and I think that if we play like that in the future then we can win games. I am disappointed, but not upset. When you play against a strong side like Rangers, Celtic or Hearts you need to be 100 per cent and have a lot of luck."
Kampman is continuing the purge which began in the summer by freeing a further five players, including one signing made only three months ago – the German Holm Kraska.
Kevin Christie, Eddie May, Mickey Weir and Eliphus Shivute are also leaving and new buys might have been on the agenda when the chairman John Boyle and his chief executive Pat Nevin were deep in conversation on the touchline minutes after the final whistle.
Riseth, meanwhile, was reflecting on a promising personal performance, but one which will not be sufficient to rescue his international career.
He was omitted from the latest Norwegian squad but will remain committed to impressing for Celtic instead.
"I talked with the trainer last week and told him I was 100 per cent," he said. "But I heard two days ago that I wasn't in the squad. I haven't spoken to him and I won't be calling him up. I know if I am playing well for Celtic then I am back in again. But first, it's Celtic and I won't think about the national team."
So it's unlikely that Riseth and Brattbakk will be combining to such devastating effect for their country in the near future. As long as discussions are already under way between the two for an early goal in the next Premier League game at Dunfermline, then they will surely feel wanted at Celtic
- Manager Interview
Dr Jo Venglos, post match
“I think it was a really good performance from us today and it is nice to see some continuity from the Guimaraes win.
“We showed the desire to win again and work very hard. We improved very much playing the ball to feet with plenty of one touch football and we created good space and chances.
“Now some of our players are off to play international football and I hope they come back fit and happy.”
“We had two very well made and taken goals and the preparation for both was good. We made the chances and that’s the most important part of the game.
“It was also a good and open game for the fans to watch. Our opponents tried to do their best and worked hard.”
Pictures
Stats
| Motherwell | Celtic | |
| Bookings | 0 | 2 |
| Fouls | 15 | 9 |
| Shots on Target | 2 | 3 |
| Corners | 6 | 3 |
| Offside | 2 | 3 |