2013-01-02: Celtic 1-0 Motherwell, SPL

Match Pictures | Matches: 2012 – 2013 | 2012-13 Pictures

Trivia

• New Year day (ish) game!
• Commons returns after injury, since scoring winner v Spartak in Champs Lge.
• Another incredible penalty save by Fraser Forster, now clearly recognised as a better goalkeeper for Celtic than even Boruc was for us.
• M'well manager Stuart McCall on Radio Scotland: "We should have had a second penalty, but you don't get two here."
• Transfer window opens!
• Rabiu Ibrahim signs for Kilmarnock after just 1 year at Celtic.
• Kevin Wilson receives now a two match ban after incident in previous game.

Review

(Behan of KDS forum)
Good Bits:
Hard-fought victory that I just didn't see coming.
Fantastic again from The Great Wall, Sir Yellowness of Hexham.
Wilson with the tackle of the season. (Insert obvious smilie)
Great goal, fantastic counter-attacking football.
Commons looked quite good, and Samaras played well.
GIRFUY ya cheating Zombie bastard of a referee.
McCall's wee lesbian coupon at the end.
Nine points clear.

Bad Bits:
Ambrose a bombscare at times, again.
Rogne a bombscare constantly, again.
Wanyama again struggled to dominate the midfield.
Again, struggled to break down a team at home.
Izaguirre's still a bit crap.

Teams

Articles

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Stats

Celtic Motherwell

Possession
59% 41%
90mins

Shots
18 8

On target
10 2

Corners
12 5

Fouls
4 7

Articles

Scottish Premier League

Celtic 1

Hooper 79

Motherwell 0

Ewan Murray at Celtic Park
The Guardian, Wednesday 2 January 2013 18.21 GMT

The second day of 2013 offered the latest snapshot of Scottish football's changed scene, albeit one laced with familiarity. Traditionally an Old Firm match would dominate the festive fixture calendar. With that in mind, the sight of Rangers travelling to Annan Athletic and Celtic hosting Motherwell on new year league business was novel.

More predictable was the identity of those who played such a crucial role in Celtic's win. Fraser Forster's save from a Tom Hateley penalty 15 minutes from time kept the scores level, with the man who may some time join the goalkeeper in the England international set-up, Gary Hooper, notching the winning goal soon afterwards.

Hooper was considered by Roy Hodgson in November but a hamstring injury prevented the forward from being named in the England party for the friendly with Sweden. Given Hooper's continued fine form, he could well come into the manager's thinking for the game with Brazil next month.

Before then Celtic have to ensure Hooper, 24, is not coaxed south on a permanent basis. Liverpool's signing of Daniel Sturridge from Chelsea will douse speculation that Hooper is bound for Anfield but other Premier League clubs are keeping a close watch on the Celtic player. He is yet to sign an extension to his contract, which expires in June 2014, rendering him a relatively cheap option for English clubs.

"Definitely," replied the Celtic coach, Garry Parker, when asked if Hooper will still be in Glasgow beyond this transfer window. "Why would he want to leave when we still have Champions League football this season? Gary doesn't only score goals, his general play is good. He and Fraser are two special players."

That last-16 meeting with Juventus is indeed the significant bargaining tool in Celtic's possession. Hooper's talent is such that he will be courted once again at the end of the season.

In a purely playing sense the Celtic staff will appreciate the brief winter break now afforded to SPL teams, given the 35 competitive fixtures their team have already played. The manager, Neil Lennon, departed straight after Wednesday's match for a family break of his own.

First he had watched Celtic squander a series of first-half chances while being troubled by Motherwell's pace on the counter-attack. The second half had been a more tame affair before Kelvin Wilson upended Jamie Murphy, playing his last match before joining Sheffield United, inside the penalty area. There was little wrong with Hateley's spot-kick but Forster supplied a wonderful, one-handed save high to his right. "If the goalkeeper goes the right way, nine times out of 10 he will save it because he has such a big frame," said Motherwell's manager, Stuart McCall.

His side were later denied a second penalty as Murphy tumbled under Forster's challenge. "I don't think you get two, do you, at Parkhead?" McCall added. "It's a bit like Old Trafford in that regard."

Between those incidents Hooper struck. The former Scunthorpe man played the ball wide to Georgios Samaras, who sent back a low pass for his team-mate to knock the ball beneath goalkeeper Darren Randolph.

Lennon's delight was apparent at full-time. Celtic's championship lead of nine points already looks unassailable.

For McCall there was an emotional farewell to the highly rated Murphy. "Jamie has been a great kid to work with," he said. "With his dedication and ability we should see him in a Scotland shirt. Everybody at this club wishes him well. He will always be welcome at Motherwell."

BBC

By Alasdair Lamont BBC Sport Scotland

Celtic moved nine points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League with a hard-fought win over Motherwell.

Gary Hooper notched the crucial goal from close range just as it looked as though neither team would find the net despite a plethora of chances.

Moments earlier Tom Hateley saw his penalty saved by Fraser Forster after Kelvin Wilson's foul on Jamie Murphy.

It means Celtic head into the winter break with a commanding lead at the top as they seek to defend their SPL title.

Celtic started extremely brightly and looked like they'd gone ahead just two minutes in, when Georgios Samaras glanced Kris Commons' superb cross into the net, but the assistant referee's flag cut short the early celebrations.

That set the tone for the opening period as the home side bombarded Darren Randolph's goal.

Commons fired just wide from the edge of the box, Randolph saved a close-range Hooper shot, with Commons' follow-up well blocked by the under-fire Motherwell defence, and the keeper did brilliantly to tip Charlie Mulgrew's top-corner-bound free kick over the bar – all that within the opening ten minutes.

Motherwell, playing an unconventional back three, eventually forced their way into the match and the departing Murphy should have done better than to blaze over the bar from the edge of the box.

With eight minutes to go before the break, Murphy lost Kayal with a change of pace but his shot, intended to curl in at the far post, instead drifted wide.

That triggered another spate of Celtic chances, with Samaras having a header booted off the line by Simon Ramsden, Commons drifting a shot just over and Samaras again forcing Randolph to get down sharply to hold a shot from the edge of the penalty area.

But the best chance of the half came in the closing seconds.

Victor Wanyama headed a Mulgrew corner back across goal and Randolph failed to gather, but with the goal gaping, Ambrose knocked the ball over from underneath the bar.

The chances continued to flow as the second half got under way, with Wilson foiling Murphy with a terrific last-ditch challenge.

Randolph pushed Wanyama's deflected shot over and after flapping at the corner, the keeper saved well from Samaras.

As the game entered the final 20 minutes, play was ebbing and flowing like a basketball match and Motherwell earned a potentially match-winning opportunity when Murphy was adjudged to have been fouled in the box by Wilson.

But though Hateley's spot-kick looked well enough hit, Forster threw himself to the right to keep it out.

And Celtic made Motherwell pay when Hooper put them in front with 10 minutes to play, tucking Samaras's cross away with typical aplomb.

Though Motherwell competed well with Celtic, as several clubs have done so far this season, with a nine-point lead at this stage, the league title seems certain to remain at Celtic Park.

Live Text Commentary
90:00 +4:04 Full time. The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +3:18 Dylan McGeouch decides to take the corner short. 90:00 +3:06 Dylan McGeouch takes a shot. Stevie Hammell gets a block in.

89:14 Corner taken right-footed by Tom Hateley, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Keith Lasley misses to the left of the goal.

88:07 Fraser Forster restarts play with the free kick.

88:07 Booking Keith Lasley is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.

87:52 The assistant referee flags for offside against Keith Lasley.

86:20 Robert McHugh gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adam Matthews. Direct free kick taken by Charlie Mulgrew.

85:04 Substitution Robert McHugh joins the action as a substitute, replacing Henrik Ojamaa.

85:04 Substitution Omar Daley on for Zaine Francis-Angol.

83:02 Short corner taken by Tom Hateley from the left by-line.

83:02 Substitution Thomas Rogne replaces Efe Ambrose.

81:22 Substitution Dylan McGeouch comes on in place of Kris Commons.

78:49 Assist by Georgios Samaras.

78:49 Goal – Gary Hooper – Celtic 1 – 0 Motherwell. Gary Hooper scores a goal from close in low into the middle of the goal. Celtic 1-0 Motherwell.

77:11 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Charlie Mulgrew, Zaine Francis-Angol makes a clearance.

76:48 Nicky Law crosses the ball.

76:24 Short corner taken by Tom Hateley.

76:19 Penalty A save by Fraser Forster from penalty by Tom Hateley. Celtic 0-0 Motherwell.

75:49 Booking Fraser Forster booked.

75:22 Booking Victor Wanyama is shown a yellow card for dissent.

75:01 Foul by Kelvin Wilson on Jamie Murphy, Penalty awarded.

73:43 Jamie Murphy crosses the ball, Fraser Forster makes a save.

73:23 Tony Watt takes a shot. Save by Darren Randolph.

71:17 Substitution Beram Kayal leaves the field to be replaced by Tony Watt.

71:04 Tom Hateley has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the target.

66:34 Kris Commons takes a shot. Save by Darren Randolph.

66:15 Unfair challenge on Georgios Samaras by Fraser Kerr results in a free kick. Beram Kayal takes the direct free kick.

65:10 The referee blows for offside against Chris Humphrey. Fraser Forster restarts play with the free kick.

62:30 Free kick awarded for a foul by Keith Lasley on Charlie Mulgrew. Direct free kick taken by Kelvin Wilson.

61:16 Free kick awarded for a foul by Keith Lasley on Kris Commons. Free kick taken by Charlie Mulgrew.

58:28 Shot from just outside the penalty area by Beram Kayal misses to the left of the target.

58:04 Charlie Mulgrew takes the inswinging corner, Fraser Kerr makes a clearance.

56:42 Keith Lasley has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.

55:18 Corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew from the left by-line, Darren Randolph makes a save.

54:32 Corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew from the right by-line, Darren Randolph makes a save.

54:32 Booking Henrik Ojamaa shown a yellow card.

51:19 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Charlie Mulgrew, Zaine Francis-Angol manages to make a clearance.

51:04 Victor Wanyama takes a shot. Darren Randolph makes a save.

49:04 Booking Beram Kayal booked.

48:24 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jamie Murphy by Beram Kayal. Darren Randolph restarts play with the free kick.

48:24 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jamie Murphy by Beram Kayal. Darren Randolph takes the free kick.

47:33 Zaine Francis-Angol gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adam Matthews. Charlie Mulgrew takes the free kick.

45:29 Shot from outside the box by Keith Lasley misses to the left of the target.

45:01 The referee starts the second half.

45:00 +1:02 Half time The first half comes to an end.

45:00 +0:31 Close range effort by Efe Ambrose goes over the bar.

45:00 +0:02 Charlie Mulgrew takes a inswinging corner.

44:54 Georgios Samaras takes a shot. Fraser Kerr gets a block in.

40:06 Georgios Samaras takes a shot. Darren Randolph makes a save.

38:11 Effort on goal by Kris Commons from just inside the area clears the crossbar.

38:11 Kris Commons produces a lobbed left-footed shot from 18 yards. Save by Darren Randolph.

36:44 Jamie Murphy has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target.

36:17 Jamie Murphy takes a shot. Fraser Forster makes a save.

35:17 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Charlie Mulgrew by Chris Humphrey. Direct free kick taken by Emilio Izaguirre.

33:09 Short corner worked by Tom Hateley.

31:26 Free kick taken by Stevie Hammell.

31:26 Booking Charlie Mulgrew is booked.

31:17 Tom Hateley fouled by Charlie Mulgrew, the ref awards a free kick.

30:11 Nicky Law takes a shot. Blocked by Efe Ambrose.

29:31 Corner from right by-line taken by Tom Hateley.

24:24 Inswinging corner taken by Kris Commons.

20:54 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kris Commons by Stevie Hammell. The ball is sent over by Charlie Mulgrew, Effort on goal by Efe Ambrose from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.

19:21 Jamie Murphy takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the crossbar.

17:36 Long distance shot from Victor Wanyama misses to the left of the goal.

15:18 Effort on goal by Georgios Samaras from deep inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.

14:40 Unfair challenge on Tom Hateley by Beram Kayal results in a free kick. Tom Hateley restarts play with the free kick.

13:34 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Darren Randolph.

9:41 Corner taken left-footed by Charlie Mulgrew, clearance by Stevie Hammell.

9:34 Georgios Samaras delivers the ball, clearance made by Simon Ramsden.

8:31 Kris Commons takes a shot. Darren Randolph makes a save.

7:49 Corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew from the left by-line.

6:52 Nicky Law is adjudged to have handled the ball. Shot on goal comes in from Charlie Mulgrew from the free kick, save by Darren Randolph.

6:17 Gary Hooper takes a shot. Save by Darren Randolph.

5:40 Gary Hooper produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

4:42 Kris Commons has an effort at goal from the edge of the box that misses to the right of the target.

3:18 Charlie Mulgrew takes the outswinging corner, clearance made by Tom Hateley.

1:34 The official flags Georgios Samaras offside. Darren Randolph restarts play with the free kick.

1:01 Corner taken left-footed by Kris Commons, clearance made by Stevie Hammell.

0:49 Centre by Gary Hooper, Nicky Law makes a clearance.

0:00 The referee gets the game started.

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