| Match Pictures | Matches: 2008 – 2009 | 2008-2009 Pictures |
Trivia
- Boruc out for a month, with Mark Brown in goals now!!
- Celtic 5pts in front (but Rangers play next day)
- Motherwell were close and had a shot off the line saved by Maloney!
- Mizuno got 2-3 mins at the end of the game and dazzled us with a a great little run holding off two tackles but shot off target.
- Controversy as Celtic wear poppy on jerseys. Fans protest takes place outside.
- Minutes silence is held for those who lost life in world war one.
Review
A great win, which in many ways was easier than the scoreline shows. A sprited Motherwell were very good in the first half, but tired themselves out for the second half. Motherwell were close and had a shot off the line saved by Maloney! Regardless, we went one up in the first half through a long low shot by Hartley, but this followed a disallowed goal by Skippy which should have stood. Celtic were more comfortable in the second half and overall we coasted the game but should have won by more. Weather didn't help.
Kilie next in midweek.
Teams
Celtic:-
Mark Brown, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Wilson, Scott Brown, Hartley, Robson (Donati 78), Maloney (Caddis 49), McDonald (Mizuno 88), Sheridan.
Subs Not Used:- Fox, O'Dea, Hutchinson, Naylor.
Booked:- Robson.
Goals:- Hartley 45, McDonald 71.
Motherwell:-
Graeme Smith, Quinn, Reynolds, Malcolm, Hammell, Lasley (O'Brien 66), Hughes, Fitzpatrick, Porter (Murphy 64), Sutton, Clarkson.
Subs Not Used:- Nielsen, Darren Smith, McGarry, Page, Connolly.
Sent Off:- Clarkson (58).
Booked:- Reynolds.
Att:- 56,504
Ref:- D McDonald
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
KStreet
Stats
CELTIC v MOTHERWELL
Possession
| 58% | 42% |
Shots on target
| 7 | 5 |
Shots off target
| 8 | 4 |
Corners
| 3 | 6 |
Fouls
| 11 | 13 |
Articles
Celtic 2-0 Motherwell
By Andy Campbell
BBC
Celtic went five points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League as Motherwell were defeated in Glasgow.
Paul Hartley fired the home side into the lead seconds before the half-time interval with an accurate half-volley past Graeme Smith.
Well were reduced to 10 men after the break when David Clarkson was sent off for violent conduct.
Scott McDonald sealed Celtic's win with a low drive into the net from distance after 71 minutes.
Celtic had gone into the match two points clear of Old Firm rivals Rangers, who face Kilmarnock on Sunday.
Motherwell had the first serious attempt at goal when Stephen Hammell's corner found John Sutton, who bundled the ball towards goal but Shaun Maloney headed away on the line.
The Motherwell players claimed the ball had crossed the line, but referee Dougie McDonald waved play on.
Moments later, Celtic striker Scott McDonald found space on the left and cut the ball back for Scott Brown, whose left-foot shot hit the post on its way out.
Sutton then got in behind the Celtic defence to fire in a shot that was comfortably held by Mark Brown, the goalkeeper included in place of Artur Boruc, who is awaiting knee surgery.
At the other end, McDonald's powerful shot was palmed away by Smith.
Chris Porter headed wide from a corner and David Clarkson forced Brown into another save as Motherwell continued to press forward.
Paul Hartley's corner after 28 minutes was headed towards goal by McDonald, but Graeme Smith got down quickly to push the ball away from goal before the danger was cleared.
David Clarkson and Mark Wilson
Clarkson (right) was sent off after 58 minutes at Celtic Park
Smith continued to frustrate Celtic with an excellent save from Cillian Sheridan's powerful left-foot shot.
Celtic had the ball in the net when McDonald headed Andreas Hinkel's cross past Smith, but the striker was penalised for a push on Paul Quinn.
However, the home side did take the lead in the last attack of the first half when Sheridan's cross was headed away by Marc Fitzpatrick on to the chest of Hartley, who controlled the ball before firing beyond Smith.
The visitors threatened an equaliser early in the second half when Stephen Hughes volley from the edge of the box was deflected wide.
From the resultant corner, Sutton's header was cleared off the line, but the referee had already blown the whistle for shoving.
Porter missed an excellent chance to level for Motherwell when he latched on to Sutton's header before shooting wide.
Motherwell were dealt a blow on 58 minutes when Clarkson was sent off.
The striker was fouled by Paul Caddis but then appeared to make contact with the Celtic substitute's face.
McDonald extended Celtic's lead with 19 minutes remaining, drilling the ball past Smith from outside the box.
The disparity in numbers took its toll on Motherwell in the closing stages as they struggled to create openings.
Koki Mizuno made his Celtic debut late on after coming on as a substitute for McDonald and had a shot over the bar in injury time.
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan:
"That was a terrific performance. We knew it was going to be hard. Motherwell started well in the first 20 minutes and then we got our second wind and so did the crowd.
"When you've got 10 players missing, it's a lot to handle. The lads had to get on with it.
"Paul Hartley was good and even in the sticky first 20 minutes I thought he was the best player on the pitch for us in terms of energy and understanding. The longer the game went on, the better he became.
"When the second goal went in, I could just see the players going, 'thank goodness'."
Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:
"To a degree we played well but I'm very frustrated because I think we can play better.
"We've lost today because we weren't good enough. That disappoints me because I think we are good enough to have come here and won this game.
"The results I want are the ones against the Old Firm and the performances I want are the ones against the Old Firm.
"They are the ones that get the players noticed and get them into the Scotland squad."
Celtic: Mark Brown, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Wilson, Scott Brown, Hartley, Robson (Donati 78), Maloney (Caddis 49), McDonald (Mizuno 88), Sheridan.
Subs Not Used: Fox, O'Dea, Hutchinson, Naylor.
Booked: Robson.
Goals: Hartley 45, McDonald 71.
Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Quinn, Reynolds, Malcolm, Hammell, Lasley (O'Brien 66), Hughes, Fitzpatrick, Porter (Murphy 64), Sutton, Clarkson.
Subs Not Used: Nielsen, Darren Smith, McGarry, Page, Connolly.
Sent Off: Clarkson (58). Booked: Reynolds.
Att: 56,504
Ref: D McDonald
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan:
"That was a terrific performance. We knew it was going to be hard. Motherwell started well in the first 20 minutes and then we got our second wind and so did the crowd.
"When you've got 10 players missing, it's a lot to handle. The lads had to get on with it.
"Paul Hartley was good and even in the sticky first 20 minutes I thought he was the best player on the pitch for us in terms of energy and understanding. The longer the game went on, the better he became.
"When the second goal went in, I could just see the players going, 'thank goodness'."
Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:
"To a degree we played well but I'm very frustrated because I think we can play better.
"We've lost today because we weren't good enough. That disappoints me because I think we are good enough to have come here and won this game.
"The results I want are the ones against the Old Firm and the performances I want are the ones against the Old Firm.
"They are the ones that get the players noticed and get them into the Scotland squad."
Depleted Celtic pull together to make light work of Motherwell
10 November 2008
Provided by: The Scotsman
Celtic 2 Motherwell 0
TWO wins and a draw from three games, one of which was against the European champions, amounts to a profitable six days' work for Celtic, particularly given the circumstances. The injury crisis which has now robbed them of Shunsuke Nakamura, for what is hoped will only be a fortnight, has also left the champions reliant on a teenage forward whose talent, if prodigious, is also unrefined.
Since Cillian Sheridan made his first appearance of the season at Motherwell in September, the young Irish striker has finished on the losing side only once in eight games. The lanky understudy to experienced colleagues Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Georgios Samaras has been asked to provide the physical presence during the pair's recent absence, and has distinguished himself to the extent that there is talk of a call-up to the Republic of Ireland squad for the friendly against Poland later this month.
It might be a step too far at this stage, especially given the extent of his exertions of late. Scott McDonald, the striker who has borne the brunt of Celtic's difficulties in attack, again partnered Sheridan on Saturday. The 25-year-old continued to cope impressively with the twin burden of maintaining the upward curve in his own performance while also aiding the development of his callow team-mate. McDonald, below, would not be the striker he is without a streak of selfishness, and his first concern must be for his own welfare. After talk of his faltering form in the early weeks of the season, which invariably led to questions about his physical condition and lifestyle, he is very much back in the swing.
Saturday's strike in the 2-0 win over Motherwell was his third goal in his last four outings. It also continued his habit of spearing his former club. His strike on Saturday was his fourth in consecutive games against Motherwell. It is his seventh goal in total against the Fir Park side since leaving the club two summers ago. "I don't know what it is," he said. "It's not as if I try any harder against them – it's just a knack. I feel confident playing against anyone just now, not just Motherwell."
It was not difficult to detect some peevishness in his observation that he will let reporters decide whether he is back to his best or not – after all, he pointed out, "You tell me when I am not". But his generosity of spirit was also to the fore as he contemplated Sheridan's arrival on the scene.
"Three games in a week is a big call for the young lad, on top of the long haul back from injury he has had," said McDonald. "He has not played a lot of football but has done tremendously well. He has a big and bright future and I have enjoyed playing with him. Being older you have to take responsibility and try and help him. Hopefully I have done a good job. I am always shouting at someone – you know me. But I try and be careful with the big guy. He is still young and still learning, as we all are."
One of McDonald's strengths is his single-mindedness. As he noted himself, he can often be seen berating others for such perceived injustices as not passing to him. Massimo Donati was the recipient of a withering blast in the second half after the substitute had elected to use Sheridan rather than the Australian. Later, after McDonald had got in the way of the Italian's bid to shoot, he simply trotted away unconcerned. It is this self-belief, bordering on arrogance, which Sheridan will need to bring to his game. He has most other attributes.
"He came back for pre-season and blew everyone away," recalled McDonald. "He is one of the fittest guys I know. And he has pace to burn. When you have that, and when he tidies up other things in his game, he will have everything. He is a manager's dream. He is tall, can run, has skill and can finish. If you have all that then nine times out of ten a manager will be attracted to you rather than the small, stumpy wee guy."
The self-styled small, stumpy wee guy wrapped up the points for Celtic with a second goal after 70 minutes, following Motherwell striker David Clarkson's unfortunate dismissal just prior to the hour mark. The hard-working Paul Hartley had opened the scoring a minute before the interval with a raking shot from distance. Mark McGhee, the Motherwell manager, later reflected that his team had not shown enough to suggest they could take something from the trip to Parkhead even before the sending-off, but the sense of deflation after Clarkson's departure was marked. Both sets of players seemed alert to the fact it was wildly out of character. Clarkson received support from both McGhee and Gordon Strachan, the Celtic manager, while McDonald admitted the arm which connected loudly with Paul Caddis' face, to the horror of most in the main stand, had not looked deliberate.
"I have played with him long enough to know that's not Clarky," he said.
Its most drastic impact was on formation, with Motherwell having opened with a 4-3-3 set-up which had initially threatened to overwhelm a lethargic-looking Celtic side. A John Sutton effort was cleared off the line, although there was some suggestion the ball might have crossed it, while Chris Porter should have done better when presented with a clear chance. McGhee later said he had left Parkhead feeling more satisfied after last season's corresponding fixture, which ended in a 3-0 loss for Motherwell. Then, he said, his team had offered, and deserved, more. They have a chance to redeem themselves against Rangers on Wednesday, when the impact of Clarkson's red card – he receives an automatic ban – will be more heavily felt by Motherwell.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Paul Hartley (Celtic)
The midfielder does not score so many goals these days, but set Celtic on their way with an accurate shot from the edge of the box. Otherwise he carried out his usual patrolling duties in front of the defence to great effect.
(c) 2008
The Scotsman