2015-10-17: Motherwell 0-1 Celtic, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 2015 – 2016 | 2015-16 Pictures

Trivia

• Celtic finally on top of the league, as Aberdeen have been collapsing of late with another defeat day before (they were five points ahead recently).
• Back after the internationals.
• Ex-Celt Mark McGhee's first game as returning manager of Motherwell.
• “Police everywhere justice nowhere”. Banner from the GB today
• Ex-Celt John Paton passes away. RIP
• Scotland out after two each draw with Poland. Ireland lose to Poland in their last game 2-1 but make playoffs.
• Scotland out of the Euros after a two each draw with Poland. Ireland defeat world cup Champions Germany at home.
• Celtic criticised after tweeting a ‘good luck’ message to the Republic of Ireland ahead of their win over Germany.The Hoops Twitter account sent best wishes to Celtic quintet Leigh Griffiths, James Forrest, Scott Brown, Charlie Mulgrew and Craig Gordon – three of whom played no part in Scotland’s 2-2 draw with Poland – but also backed Ireland against Germany.Despite two messages supporting the Scottish national side, people were quick to latch onto the tweet, with one Tartan Army fan tweeting: “Who the hell from Celtic Football Club wrote that. Scotland would be out then, jeezo” while another added: “Don’t care what anyone says, our roots are Irish, we are both Scottish and Irish, support both or go learn your history.”
• Rugby world cup, Scotland and Ireland make the quarter finals but England don't. Ireland lose in the Quarter-finals, as do Scotland.

Review

(celticelvis of KDS)
We were excellent first half but degenerated into our alter ego in the second.

I don't buy the ref ruined it for us with his cheating, that should have driven the team on, instead it seemed to knock the bottle out of the team like the SF against ICT?

We have to find a way of benefitting from our total dominance.

(superstardj of KDS)
My enjoyment of the game was over after the second clear penalty.
Lets be clear about this, the ref is cheating, he sees both of them and chooses not to give them.

We played very well and of course 2 penalty goals, and the score is equal to the performance.
Odd choice by RD to take of Ciftci, I thought he was the best player on the pitch up to that point, he could of gone in to the number 10 role, if LG had to come on.
I was concerned about the back four, but they worked very well together. Hope the injuries are not to bad, ahead of Thursday.

(hoops of KDS)
The most worrying thing for me is that opposing players attempt handballs against us now as if they know they will get away with it. The first instance in the semi was just the guy thinking he was taking one for the team and preventing a goal, probably knowing he would get sent off. Second was away against ICT, did he know he wasn't going to get punished? We all saw what happened today. Opposing players are wise to the fact they can get away with this. Three times in about 5 effing months. eff the SFA and the cheating bastard refs.

As for the game. Played nice stuff in the first half. The rotten decisions sucked the life out of it. Rogic was very poor, I've seen him play much better and willing to give him the benefit of the doubt after gruelling journeys over the break there. Glad to have the three points and back TOTL.

EDIT: second handball was at home against ICT. We won 5-0 and lifted the league trophy.

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Stats

Motherwell Celtic
Possession
63% 37%
90mins
Shots
2 18
On target
1 4
Corners
2 8
Fouls
8 5

Articles

Motherwell 0-1 Celtic: Ciftci takes Celts to top
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/motherwell-0-1-celtic-ciftci-takes-celts-to-top-1-3919871

Celtic scorer: Ciftci 15

MOIRA GORDON AT FIR PARK
00:01Sunday 18 October 2015 14:33Saturday 17 October 2015

CELTIC headed to the top of the Premiership table with a victory that was as easy as they chose to make it.

For long spells it never really seemed in doubt and with the majority of the pressure in a fairly one-sided match, they toyed with their hosts at times. But the fact they didn’t turn that into something more tangible will be the concern as they head to Norway on their latest Europa League sojourn.

They netted in the 15th minute, to give them the three points and elevate them to the top of the table but the fact that Nadir Ciftci, with only his second goal of the season, was the only scorer in a game which offered the Parkhead side so many more opportunities must have been a source of frustration for manager Ronny Deila.

After the match he insisted that, while he would have loved more goals, the victory was the important factor.

“I always want more goals to kill teams off and we should have done that. You know when you don’t do that then you will get trouble for a period of the game and we did.”

In fairness that trouble almost came from their own man as Efe Ambrose breathed a sigh of relief when a second-half swiped clearance threatened Craig Gordon’s goal in a way Motherwell had failed to.

“But I’m happy that we got three points,” said Deila. “We deserved it and played 70 minutes of good football. The first half was very dominant and at the level that we want to be. I’m very happy that we are back where I want to be and it puts us in a good position and now we just need to keep winning games and performing and develop ourselves and we have a very good chance to stay there.”

The ratio of goals and even clear cut chances compared to the wealth of possession might have been troubling if the team hadn’t managed to see out the win. But so too would the penalty claims which were surprisingly dismissed by referee Alan Muir. The most obvious was in the 59th minute when Kris Commons cut back to Ciftci, but Motherwell’s Kieran Kennedy stuck out a not-too-subtle hand to slap the ball away from him and deny him a clear opening. The defender cheekily claimed the referee had called it correctly but the look on his face suggested that not even he believed that.

“It is a big deal, of course it’s a big deal. It was clear handball,” said Deila, unwilling to let the official off the hook simply because his team had still triumphed. “There is 38 games and you give and take and hopefully it is going to even out. I have no problem with referees here in Scotland but sometimes they make mistakes as well and today they did that.”

“Was there two penalties I missed? Was it 3-0? Or did they miss them both? Oh right, they weren’t given, I see,” said Mark McGhee following the first match of his second incarnation as Motherwell boss, annoyed by the mention of the penalty shouts. “Look, you could go on all day talking about those sorts of things. There were fouls here and there. The fact is they got one goal and given the fact we lost it early doors, it wasn’t a bad effort that we only lost 1-0.”

Celtic could arguably have made it an embarrassing welcome back to Fir Park. From the fourth minute when Ciftci had a shot deflected off course, the champions were the team more likely to score. But there was a slackness in the final ball.

Captain Scott Brown tried to drive them on, pulling on his boots to play a leading role despite suffering a bruised ankle in training.“I said to the players in the dressing room afterwards that he is a role model for what hard work is. He was quite injured and his ankle was very swollen but he puts his boots on and goes out there. He is a leader by performance and shows what the attitude should be,” said McGhee

“We should have scored more goals as a team,” admitted Ciftci, who got on the end of one of the better build-ups. But even that had been protracted in its infancy. With Stuart Armstrong and Emilio Izaguirre in space on the left it took an age to work the ball across to them. When they did pick out Armstrong, he slipped his full-back on the overlap. Commons’ initial shot from the cross was parried but the striker found the net with the follow-up.

“It felt like I’d never been away,” joked McGhee. “We got booed off at half-time and we got booed when we made substitutions so I felt at home. Look, I can only incrementally do what I’m doing. Hopefully there will be improvement in the coming weeks. We’ve got work to do but we’ll do it right.”

BBC
By Jonathan Sutherland BBC Scotland at Fir Park

Celtic returned to the top of the Scottish Premiership with a narrow victory over Motherwell.

Nadir Ciftci scored early for Celtic but the champions failed to add the goals their dominance deserved.

Motherwell made it more of a contest after the break, although Celtic had two big penalty appeals waved away.

Despite failing to score more goals Celtic deserved victory, as Mark McGhee began his second spell as Motherwell boss with a defeat.

The defending champions go two points clear of Aberdeen, who lost to Ross County on Friday evening and Celtic resume their Europa League campaign in manager Ronny Deila's native Norway against Molde on Thursday.
New manager, new line-up
Motherwell manager Mark McGhee

McGhee has returned to Fir Park after ending his first spell in charge in 2009

McGhee's starting line-up was certainly a statement with regulars Keith Lasley, Lionel Ainsworth and Scott McDonald all on the bench.

As for Celtic, Ciftci was handed a chance to shine with Leigh Griffiths on the bench. Captain and midfielder Scott Brown also made the starting XI after recovering from a training ground knock.

The hosts aspired to a 4-3-3 formation, but as Celtic dominated play the formation in reality was more 4-5-1.

It did not long for Celtic to make the breakthrough. Stuart Armstrong and Emilio Izaguirre combined well on the left to set up Kris Commons, and though his shot was parried by Connor Ripley, Ciftci fired in the rebound.

Motherwell struggled to get into the game but did have a spot-kick claim dismissed when Wes Fletcher went down in the box.
Celtic dominance but no rout
Kris Commons has a chance for Celtic against Motherwell

Commons was prominent in a lot of Celtic's play

Soon after, Commons had a pop from 30 yards, his shot swerving in the air and Ripley tipping the effort just over the bar.

The mercurial Commons would come even closer with a free-kick 20 yards out as his shot came back off the crossbar with Ripley beaten.

Such was the Celtic dominance that one of their centre backs – Tyler Blackett – was able to cross the ball into the box for his central defensive partner Dedryck Boyata – who had joined the attack – but his free header was just wide.

At the start of the second half there were appeals for a Celtic penalty when Brown went down in the box under challenge from Kieran Kennedy, but referee Alan Muir decided the Motherwell defender had made contact with the ball.

At the other end, Efe Ambrose, culpable for the loss of some important goals in recent weeks, almost had another moment to forget as his sliced clearance from a cross went perilously close to finding his own net.

Commons came close again to scoring but fired just wide.

Celtic should have had a spot-kick when the ball struck the arm of Kennedy but there was no whistle from the officials.

Motherwell were offering very little as an attacking threat and yet they almost equalised when Kennedy fired just wide.

They had a big chance following a free-kick when the ball fell to Kennedy in the box, but he failed to control and it ran harmlessly behind for a goal-kick.

Ciftci's replacement Griffiths then stung the palms of Ripley after a turn and shot from the edge of the box. Commons also had a late chance after working his way into the box but was unable to get a clean shot away.

Live Text Commentary
Full time

Full Time Match ends, Motherwell 0, Celtic 1.
90:00 +3:02 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Motherwell 0, Celtic 1.
90:00 +0:15

Attempt missed. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
86:54

Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
86:00

Kris Commons (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
85:59

Foul by Stephen McManus (Motherwell).
82:30

Kris Commons (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82:30

Foul by Stephen McManus (Motherwell).
82:00

Lionel Ainsworth (Motherwell) wins a free kick on the left wing.
81:58

Foul by Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic).
81:44

Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
80:46

Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
78:16

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
78:16

Joe Chalmers (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
77:15 Booking

Booking Scott McDonald (Motherwell) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
77:10

Efe Ambrose (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
77:10

Foul by Scott McDonald (Motherwell).
75:49 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Callum McGregor replaces Nir Bitton because of an injury.
74:28

Delay in match Nir Bitton (Celtic) because of an injury.
71:29 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Motherwell. Dom Thomas replaces Marvin Johnson.
68:42

Foul by Tyler Blackett (Celtic).
68:42

Liam Grimshaw (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
67:53

Foul by Efe Ambrose (Celtic).
67:53

Marvin Johnson (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
66:04 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Gary Mackay-Steven replaces Stuart Armstrong.
65:44 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Motherwell. Scott McDonald replaces Wes Fletcher.
63:17

Attempt missed. Scott Brown (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
60:35

Attempt missed. Kieran Kennedy (Motherwell) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
60:05

Corner, Motherwell. Conceded by Emilio Izaguirre.
59:30 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Leigh Griffiths replaces Nadir Ciftci.
57:22

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Kieran Kennedy.
57:03

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Stephen McManus.
55:53

Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
53:40

Corner, Motherwell. Conceded by Efe Ambrose.
52:26 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Motherwell. Lionel Ainsworth replaces Louis Moult.
49:12

Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
49:12

Foul by Louis Laing (Motherwell).
45:00

Second Half begins Motherwell 0, Celtic 1.
45:00 +2:30 Half time

Half Time First Half ends, Motherwell 0, Celtic 1.
45:00 +2:05

Attempt missed. Scott Brown (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
43:32

Attempt blocked. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
42:18

Attempt missed. Dedryck Boyata (Celtic) header from the centre of the box misses to the left.
41:23

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Liam Grimshaw.
40:22

Attempt missed. Dedryck Boyata (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
39:48

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Josh Law.
38:19

Foul by Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic).
38:19

Marvin Johnson (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
36:48

Kris Commons (Celtic) hits the bar with a left footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.
36:02

Tomas Rogic (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
36:02

Foul by Stephen McManus (Motherwell).
35:25

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Joe Chalmers.
31:45

Attempt missed. Tomas Rogic (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high.
27:25

Attempt missed. Nir Bitton (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
26:05

Efe Ambrose (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
26:05

Foul by Stephen Pearson (Motherwell).
23:34

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Connor Ripley.
23:17

Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from very close range is saved in the top centre of the goal.
22:56

Nadir Ciftci (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
22:56

Foul by Stephen McManus (Motherwell).
14:52 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Motherwell 0, Celtic 1. Nadir Ciftci (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
13:27

Foul by Liam Grimshaw (Motherwell).
13:27

Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
10:49

Attempt missed. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
8:15

Delay in match Nir Bitton (Celtic) because of an injury.
7:49

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Joe Chalmers.
5:32

Attempt saved. Wes Fletcher (Motherwell) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
4:51

Attempt missed. Dedryck Boyata (Celtic) header from very close range misses to the right.
4:28

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Kieran Kennedy.
4:14

Attempt blocked. Nadir Ciftci (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
0:00

First Half begins.
0:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

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