| Match Pictures | Matches:2007 – 2008 | 2007-2008 Pictures |
Trivia
- First time at Fir Park since Phil O'Donnell died (RIP).
- JVoH double!
- Fir Park pitch was a disgrace!
- WGS said worst we played for 5 games even though best scoreline we'ved had for 5 games or so.
- Post-Note: The first of seven winning games in a row that turned around the league title race to win Celtic the league title!
Review
A Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink double on a barren Fir Park pitch helped reignite Celtic's SPL title aspirations. After many poor performances of late this was better, and can't complain much when we win so comforably. However, we squandered a league to let M'Well back in at one point to equalize, and we were poor in challenges. A lot needs fixing, but Robson and Hartley really stood out in this game, with JVoH worth a big mention for his double! Huns game at home on Wednesday.
Teams
Motherwell team:-
Graeme Smith, Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell, Hughes, Brian McLean, Fitzpatrick (Darren Smith 71), Lappin (McGarry 57), McCormack, Porter (Murphy 82).
Subs Not Used:- Daniels, Lasley, Forbes, Archdeacon.
Booked:- McCormack.
Scorer:- McManus 24 og.
Celtic team:-
Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Robson, Hartley, McGeady, McDonald (Killen 86), Vennegoor of Hesselink (Samaras 82).
Subs Not Used:- Mark Brown, Sno, Caddis, Mizuno, Balde.
Booked:- Vennegoor of Hesselink.
Scorers:- McManus 17, McDonald 30, Vennegoor of Hesselink 43, 57.
Att: 9,771
Ref: A Freeland (Scotland).
Articles
Pictures
KStreet
- Pre-match
- Match
- MoTM – Hartley (Link to MOTM Winners)
- Post-match
Stats
MOTHERWELL- CELTIC
Possession
| 40% | 60% |
Shots on target
| 2 | 6 |
Shots off target
| 5 | 7 |
Corners
| 4 | 7 |
Fouls
| 21 | 12 |
Motherwell 1-4 Celtic
By David Sharp
BBC
A Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink double on a barren Fir Park pitch helped reignite Celtic's SPL title aspirations.
Stephen McManus put Celtic in front after 16 minutes when he bundled the ball into the net from close range.
But seven minutes later he could only help Ross McCormack's shot into his own goal for Motherwell's equaliser.
Scott McDonald and Vennegoor of Hesselink gave Celtic a comfortable lead at the break before the Dutch striker added a fourth on 56 minutes.
Celtic made two changes to the side that lost 1-0 at home to Motherwell last week.
Scott Brown began a three-match suspension and was replaced by Barry Robson while Paul Hartley also came into the midfield for Massimo Donati.
Motherwell midfielder Bob Malcolm was suspended after being sent off at Celtic Park last week.
Brian McLean came in at right-back with Paul Quinn moving into the middle.
Shunsuke Nakamura set up Scott McDonald on the right-hand side of the Motherwell box for the first opportunity of the game after nine minutes.
The former Fir Park player cut inside Steven Hammell but lashed his left-shoot wide.
On the 16th minute Nakamura's free-kick from wide on the left saw Well keeper Graeme Smith buckle under Gary Caldwell's challenge and the ball spun high into the air.
McManus rose above a cluster of Motherwell defenders to bundle the ball into the net from inside the six-yard box.
Moments later McDonald missed a sitter when he misdirected his header wide of the target from only six yards out.
McManus bagged his second goal of the game within seven minutes – this time it was at the wrong end, but Motherwell weren't complaining about the Celtic captain's gift.
McCormack dispossessed Nakamura in midfield and raced towards goal, playing a neat one-two with Stephen Hughes before slipping the ball past Artur Boruc.
As the ball spun towards the gaping goal McManus attempted to hook it clear but only succeeded in helping it into the net.
A timely challenge from Steven Hammill denied Nakamura in the box with the Japanese midfielder poised to shoot.
But Motherwell were unable to prevent McDonald restoring Celtic's advantage after half an hour, the striker's 27th goal of the season.
His well-controlled volley took a wicked deflection off Mark Reynolds and bounced over the flailing left arm of Smith.
Vennegoor of Hesselink gave the visitors a commanding two-goal lead approaching the interval with a powerful header from Barry Robson's corner.
Smith kept Motherwell in the game with an athletic save from McDonald as Celtic started the second half on the front foot.
At the other end McCormack rifled a vicious volley narrowly past Boruc's right-hand post.
Then Vennegor of Hesselink put the gloss on a fine Celtic victory after 56 minutes with a well-taken strike after Well failed to clear their lines.
Hughes weaved his way past two Celtic defenders after 71 minutes before unleashing a great shot that Boruc parried brilliantly to maintain Celtic's three-goal advantage.
Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell, Hughes, Brian McLean, Fitzpatrick (Darren Smith 71), Lappin (McGarry 57), McCormack, Porter (Murphy 82). Subs Not Used: Daniels, Lasley, Forbes, Archdeacon.
Booked: McCormack.
Goals: McManus 24 og.
Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Robson, Hartley, McGeady, McDonald (Killen 86), Vennegoor of Hesselink (Samaras 82). Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, Sno, Caddis, Mizuno, Balde.
Booked: Vennegoor of Hesselink.
Goals: McManus 17, McDonald 30, Vennegoor of Hesselink 43, 57.
Att: 9,771
Ref: A Freeland (Scotland).
Celtic display impresses Strachan
BBC
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan
Strachan was impressed by the Celtic players' commitment
Celtic boss Gordon Strachan saluted his side's effort after they exacted revenge on Motherwell for last weekend's 1-0 SPL defeat.
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink scored two goals with Scott McDonald and Stephen McManus grabbing the others in a comprehensive 4-1 victory at Fir Park.
"It was a different type of game," Strachan said.
"The football was a joy to behold at times last week but the commitment today was a joy."
Strachan insisted his side created more scoring opportunities in last week's defeat at Celtic Park but finished more clinically, with Vennegoor of Hesselink grabbing a double and McDonald notching his 27th goal of the season.
"Performance-wise, in terms of playing football that's the worst we've played in the last five games – and it's not easy to play football out there," Strachan said, in reference to the poor playing surface at Fir Park.
"That's the least chances we've made in the last five games but we were better at finishing today.
"Our form has been better than that but goals can help smooth over some cracks."
Motherwell deserved more – McGhee
BBC
Motherwell manager Mark McGhee
Mark McGhee felt his side competed well against Celtic
Motherwell manager Mark McGhee felt his side played better in the 4-1 defeat to Celtic than they had done when they won 1-0 at Parkhead last weekend.
McGhee insisted the difference in the quality of Celtic's set-pieces was the main change this time around.
"There were a lot of things I was quite pleased about and positive about," McGhee said.
"We were well in the game and lost from set-pieces; Shunsuke Nakamura and Barry Robson's quality was the difference."
Celtic striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink silenced the critics that have been on his back in recent months by grabbing a double in an impressive performance.
Stephen McManus and Scott McDonald also notched for the visitors with Motherwell's solitary strike coming when McManus helped a Ross McCormack shot into his own net.
"We matched them in every area of the field, I thought our shape was fine and a lot of our attacking play was fine," McGhee said.
"I thought we played a lot better this week than we did last week."
The Fir Park side remain in third place and McGhee is still targeting a Uefa Cup place.
"If we beat Aberdeen, Dundee United and Hibs then I think we will finish in third place," McGhee concluded.