| Match Pictures | Matches: 2004 – 2005 | 2004-2005 Pictures |
Trivia
- Gordon Marshall and Phil O'Donnell started for Motherwell.
- Rumours that Juninho not settling in Scotland.
Review
Joos Valgaeren was easily beaten after 13 minutes by Steven Hammell and when he found Alex Burns, the striker went past Jackie McNamara before blazing the ball over from 22 yards.
Both teams had the ball in the net in the space of 40 seconds. Motherwell had David Clarkson's effort disallowed, and Juninho was ruled offside at the other end.
Stilian Petrov and Juninho combined well on the right and the Brazilian showed great skill and speed to leave the Motherwell defence in his wake. He aimed his cross for McGeady at the back post and the youngster made no mistake to put his side ahead.
Celtic started the second half in more lively fashion and Hartson would have doubled their lead just a minute after the restart had he headed Thompson's free-kick anywhere but straight at Gordon Marshall from seven yards.
Juninho might have scored when he lobbed Marshall as he rashly rushed out of his goal but he let himself down by flicking the ball wide of the goal.
Celtic's second arrived from the penalty spot. A nice move saw McGeady pick out Hartson, who flicked the ball into the path of Petrov only for the Bulgarian to go down in a tangle of legs with O'Donnell. The referee had no hesitation in awarding the spot kick and Thompson confidently beat Gordon Marshall.
Motherwell came back into the game within a couple of minutes. The ball fell nicely to Corrigan 25 yards out and he caught it sweetly, though David Marshall will feel he should have done better. Bobo Balde had had an error-strewn afternoon and he was at fault for the Motherwell equaliser as he brought Clarkson down and Foran slotted the penalty past Marshall.
McNamara did well to pick out Beattie and the substitute drilled an excellent shot into the top corner of the net.
Hartson could have added a fourth in the closing moments but his header was straight at Marshall.
Teams
Motherwell:-
Marshall, Paul Quinn, Craigan, Partridge, Hammell, Foran, Corrigan, O'Donnell, Paterson, Burns, Clarkson.
Subs Not Used:- Corr, Cowan, Wright, Fagan, Kinniburgh, Fitzpatrick, Coakley.
Goals:- Corrigan 67, Foran 71 pen.
Booked:- Corrigan.
Celtic:-
Marshall, Agathe, Balde, Valgaeren, McNamara, Petrov, Juninho Paulista (Beattie 66), Lennon, Thompson, Hartson, McGeady (Wallace 82).
Subs Not Used:- Hedman, Sylla, Pearson, Lambert, Petta.
Goals:- McGeady 41, Thompson 65 pen, Beattie 77.
Booked:- Thompson, Valgaeren.
Att:- 10,592
Ref:- D McDonald.
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
Motherwell 2-3 Celtic
BBC
Celtic emerged with all three points as they won by the odd goal in five in a pulsating match at Fir Park.
They took the lead against the run of play just before half time through Aiden McGeady, who tapped in from six yards from Juninho's cross.
Alan Thompson added a second from the penalty spot before Martyn Corrigan pulled one back with a 25-yard drive.
Richie Foran equalised with the game's second penalty but a fine strike by Craig Beattie gave Celtic the win.
The Celtic defence was by far the busier of the two in the opening quarter of the game, and Martin O'Neill's back four failed to inspire confidence with a number of shaky moments.
Joos Valgaeren was easily beaten after 13 minutes by Steven Hammell and when he found Alex Burns, the striker went past Jackie McNamara before blazing the ball over from 22 yards.
Both teams had the ball in the net in the space of 40 seconds.
Motherwell could consider themselves unfortunate not to have had David Clarkson's effort allowed, though John Hartson was correctly ruled offside at the other end.
When the visitors finally took the lead just before half time it was slightly against the run of play.
Stilian Petrov and Juninho combined well on the right and the Brazilian showed great skill and speed to leave the Motherwell defence in his wake.
He aimed his cross for McGeady at the back post and the youngster made no mistake to put his side ahead.
Celtic started the second half in more lively fashion and Hartson would have doubled their lead just a minute after the restart had he headed Thompson's free-kick anywhere but straight at Gordon Marshall from seven yards.
The former Celtic goalkeeper parried McGeady's effort moments later before Burns curled a free kick just inches past the upright.
Juninho might have scored when he lobbed Marshall as he rashly rushed out of his goal but he let himself down by flicking the ball wide of the goal.
Celtic's second, when it came, arrived from the penalty spot. A nice move saw McGeady pick out Hartson, who flicked the ball into the path of Petrov only for the Bulgarian to go down in a tangle of legs with O'Donnell.
The referee had no hesitation in awarding the spot kick and Thompson confidently beat Gordon Marshall.
But Motherwell came back into the game within a couple of minutes. The ball fell nicely to Corrigan 25 yards out and he caught it sweetly, though David Marshall will feel he should have done better.
Bobo Balde had had an error-strewn afternoon and he was at fault for the Motherwell equaliser as he brought Clarkson down and Foran slotted the penalty past Marshall.
Incredibly, though, Celtic regained the lead with 13 minutes remaining.
McNamara did well to pick out Beattie and the substitute drilled an excellent shot into the top corner of the net.
Hartson could have added a fourth in the closing moments but his header was straight at Marshall.
Motherwell: Marshall, Paul Quinn, Craigan, Partridge, Hammell, Foran, Corrigan, O'Donnell, Paterson, Burns, Clarkson.
Subs Not Used: Corr, Cowan, Wright, Fagan, Kinniburgh, Fitzpatrick, Coakley.
Booked: Corrigan.
Goals: Corrigan 67, Foran 71 pen.
Celtic: Marshall, Agathe, Balde, Valgaeren, McNamara, Petrov, Juninho Paulista (Beattie 66), Lennon, Thompson, Hartson, McGeady (Wallace 82).
Subs Not Used: Sylla, Pearson, Lambert, Petta, Hedman.
Booked: Thompson, Valgaeren.
Goals: McGeady 41, Thompson 65 pen, Beattie 77.
Att: 10,592
Ref: D McDonald
O'Neill excited over goal feasts
BBC
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill
Motherwell 2-3 Celtic
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill admitted his side look like they have to score several goals in every game at the moment to avoid defeat.
"It's exciting stuff, we're scoring goals, but the way we're defending, we need to score three or four to get something from each game," he said.
"It's an attacking line-up, with Didier Agathe and Jackie McNamara at full-back, we only have two defenders.
"Of course it's a concern – the goals we're conceding are not great."