2016-12-03: Motherwell 3-4 Celtic, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 2016 – 2017 | 2016-17 Pictures

Trivia

• Game of the season? (Domestically at least)
• Incredible match, Celtic go behind two times (once 2-0 down) yet get back in to win, 1-0 2-0 2-1 2-2 3-2 3-3 3-4! Winning goal at the death.
• Toure returns and is culpable for first two lost goals, first goal was an excellent goal by Motherwell.
• First domestic goals conceded by Celtic since Sep.
• Mark McGhee (M'well manager) whinges about Celtic assistant manager, saying he is not Celtic class after a silly spat. All else swat it away.
• Francie Hinton, 76 has passed away. He served the Celtic Supporters' Association faithfully for 25 years where he held the post of President, bringing him into contact with many Celtic greats over the years. Sometimes controversial (e.g. during the Celtic Takeover days). RIP
• Chant of the season so far from @Morton_FC fans – "you're ***** and your big team died" in response to Beith Juniors fans singing The Sash.
• First match after Celtic’s League Cup final win over Aberdeen.
  
• Rodgers: “We have got to look at the next one, to start of the next century of trophies. That will be important for us and the club.”
  
• Belgian outfit Gent are reported to be keeping tabs on Celtic’s reserve goalkeeper Logan Bailly. He’s hardly played.
  
• James McCarthy reported to be in talks with Celtic for a move from Everton.
  
• Final match v Man City in the European Cup next week, Celtic already out of Europe, this is final group game.
  
• Celtic’s fringe players are delighted with life at Celtic Park even if they are not guaranteed a start in every match. Squad player
• Callum McGregor, who came on as a substitute in the Betfred Cup final having started the previous two games, said everyone is just happy to be part of something special under Rodgers. Good news.
  
• Brazil Chapecoense football team in Colombia plane crash. A plane carrying 81 people, including a top Brazilian football team, has crashed on its approach to the city of Medellin in Colombia, officials say. Many died, and few survived. They were flying to play in the first leg of the final of the Copa Sudamericana – winner qualifies for Copa Libertadores, top continental competition in South America, and were the underdogs – facing current Cope Libertadores holders Atletico Nacional. RIP.
  Minute silence conducted in memory of those from the tragedy.

Review

(CelticElvis of KDS)
Incredible second half, didn't think we would pull it off.

Also have to admit that I thought Armstong was not first team Celtic quality but his performances in the last half a dozen games culminating in todays masterclass show what I know. He is really giving it everything on the field and long may it continue.

Like previous posters I have a soft spot for McGhee, I always thought he worked hard for us and rarely let the side down, he will be a major threat to the new huns in the cup if his side plays the way it did today.

For the life of me I can't understand why AW is so negative towards Celtic, at first I thought he was trying to come across as a totally impartial commentator trying to show how objective he is despite being a former Celtic player but he really seems to carry a dislike for us akin to a former hun player.

Is there a reason for this, was he discarded before his time, sold off against his will, made a scapegoat for a bad performance? I can't remember anything myself but the only reason he can be that much of a dick is if he is carrying a grudge. I actually despise him now, something that I normally could never feel about a Celtic player no matter how poor they were.

(AG 67 of KDS)
Where to start….Motherwell played well first half, Celtic were way off the pace, too slow and ponderous, two well taken goals from them with question marks in the build up (offside 1st/foul 2nd) and also over Toure losing Moult for both – their first was a sublime finish though, great goal. After McGregor scored I was convinced Celtic would win, almost the entire second half was played in the Motherwell half. Huge character to come back from 2 down and also 3-2, Armstrong was superb, a bundle of energy and hard work, non-stop, deserved his goal, took it well. By far his best game at Celtic , hopefully he can produce that consistently.
It's the sort of game under BR where you know Celtic will keep playing and create chances, complete contrast to the last two timid and turgid seasons under Deila. At 4-3 I expected Celtic to probably score a fifth.
Had it finished 3-3, you would have just had to say it was a great game of football, Motherwell played their part, McManus had a good game at the back for them, but I think Celtic deserved to win overall.

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Motherwell 3 – 4 Celtic: Tom Rogic scores late winner

The Scotsman

Celtic's Tom Rogic (right) celebrates scoring the winning goal with team-mate James Forrest. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire
Andrew Smith

Celtic twice came from behind before Tom Rogic’s late strike gave them a dramatic 4-3 win over Motherwell in a remarkable Ladbrokes Premiership game at Fir Park.

Stupendous, scatty and see-saw, it felt like there were about half a dozen games in the course of the afternoon’s events that Celtic and Motherwell contrived to serve up.

It was like one of those multi-stranded narratives so beloved in popular culture by the time Tom Rogic produced one of his typically immaculate driven finishes to seal a 16th win from a 17-game unbeaten domestic start to the season for last weekend’s Betfred League Cup winners.

Across the first 45 minutes, the story of the contest seemed like it would be Motherwell’s magnificence channelled through two two exquisite volleyed finishes from Louis Moult that seemed to leave Brendan Rodgers facing down a first defeat by Scottish opponents. Moult’s first was the first time Celtic’s goal had been breached on the home front in 781 minutes.

The vulnerabilities of a backline missing Erik Sviatchenko through illness seemed the tale then; and more specifically the hapless nature of Kolo Toure in his first senior appearance in 45 days.

Then, with Celtic transformed post-interval – switching to a back three and finding an instant reply from substitute Callum McGregor – it appeared the focus of the bonkers afternoon would shift to the three goals in 142 seconds midway through the period that swung a 2-1 lead in the home side’s favour to a 3-3. A frenzied period in which Patrick Roberts headed an equaliser at the back post, Lionel Ainsworth thumped in a cross from a similar area at the other end having just arrived on the pitch, before Stuart Armstrong spun round and hooked a low shot into the corner of the net for the goal McGhee felt turned the encounter.

Yet with the argy-bargy between Celtic assistant Chris Davies and the Motherwell management team at the conclusion of hostilities it had yet one more headline act. One that Rodgers forlornly hoped would not overshadow his team’s ability to overcome their gravest domestic predicament with finesse and footballing nous that eventually tore the Lanarkshire side apart.

“That isn’t the story of the game. The story of the game is that my team were brilliant second half,” said the Celtic manager. “Give credit to Motherwell, they did well first half and exploited our back four but we showed a great mentality to come back. I’m delighted for them because, again, it’s another box ticked in terms of being asked a question, coming from 2-0 down to win.

“It’s probably the most pleasing game we’ve had domestically, because to be that adverse situation, we haven’t had it before and it was going to be a real challenge for us. So to come out with a win, you see the joy in the supporters, you’re trying to put out a team they’re proud of and by the end they were very happy. They appreciate the fight and spirit we foster in the team.”

Rodgers admitted his side was “very poor defensively” early on. “We gave too much space, our two centre-halves weren’t aggressive enough. The young boy Moult was very good, coming underneath, spinning in behind, and we never dealt with him.” His first goal Rodgers declared “sublime”, a 50-yard arcing diagonal ball from Stephen McManus dropping over Toure’s head and then being dispatched by an inch-perfect airborne chip that left Craig Gordon beaten for the first time in a domestic game since September. Moult made it 2-0 in 36 minutes by directing, with one touch, an inviting Ross MacLean cross from the left that eluded Toure in at the far post.

The complexion off the game changed when McGregor sleekly wriggled his way inside the area and exchanged passes with Stuart Armstrong before steering a low drive in at the far corner and, but for Ainsworth’s score, the serious chances stacked up at the home end.

“It was a fantastic game,” said McGhee. “When you come to play a team like Celtic with the way they are at the moment you want to compete. We wanted to have a go and I think we did just that.

“Our first half performance was fantastic. We knew they would come at us in the second half and that’s what happened. Brendan would have been saying to his players that we’re a team that concedes goals.” Celtic are a side that, against Scottish rivals, continue to offer no significant concessions.

By Tom English

BBC Scotland at Fir Park

From the section Football

Tom Rogic scores
Rogic's late strike settled a hugely entertaining match

Tom Rogic's last-minute goal gave Celtic victory over Motherwell in a thrilling Premiership match.

Louis Moult scored twice – a first-time lob and a close-range volley – to put the hosts in charge.

However, Callum McGregor's strike brought Celtic back into contention and Patrick Roberts headed them level.

Lionel Ainsworth quickly volleyed Well ahead again but that lead did not last long as Stuart Armstrong fired home before Rogic's low drive settled it.

Celtic ended the day still eight points clear at the top of the division and still have three games in hand.
Moult stuns Celtic

This was a stunning game, a thrill-fest from start to finish with goals, chances, drama and aggravation all played out in a thunderous Fir Park.

The champions had not conceded in the league for 10 hours and were up against a Motherwell team that had conceded three in 90 minutes against Hearts last time out.

This looked like it was going to be another Celtic stroll, but Moult dynamited that notion after just three minutes.
Louis Moult scores
Moult had a fruitful first half in Lanarkshire

It was a sumptuous finish, a thing of beauty. Stephen McManus aimed his downfield pass at the space occupied by Moult and his marker, Kolo Toure. The striker stole away from Toure and cushioned the dropping ball first time over Craig Gordon's head.

Toure's defending was poor and Gordon was caught too far off his line but Moult's precision was a delight.

Motherwell paid little regard for Celtic's reputation, hustling and harrying them, bringing a real edge to their game that Celtic found hard to deal with for a long time.

Moult was inches away from making it 2-0 just before the half-hour, but he got the job done just after.

Mikael Lustig was robbed of possession by Ross MacLean – the Swede was livid at the tackle – and when MacLean crossed to the back post, Moult took advantage of more slack Toure defending to bang in his second of the game and his 10th of the season.
The comeback

Brendan Rodgers changed his formation at the break and went three at the back to give Celtic's midfield more ballast. It worked.

Within three minutes, McGregor, a first-half substitute for Emilio Izaguirre, played a one-two with the excellent Armstong and McGregor stroked his shot past Craig Samson.
Callum McGregor scores
McGregor's strike prompted Celtic's second-half response

Celtic now had Motherwell under the cosh and Armstrong's delivery from the left saw Roberts head the visitors level at the back post.

You'd have gambled your last penny on Celtic motoring on to win it at that point. Motherwell's energy levels were running out and they were seeing precious little of the ball. They looked like they were barely hanging on.
Dramatic end game

Just when you thought that Motherwell's day was going to peter out into defeat, they roused themselves again and got themselves back in front.

Roberts had scored in the 69th minute, then from a Steven Hammell cross, Ainsworth scored in the 70th. Celtic's defence was left with giant gaps and the substitute pocked home from close range.

Sixty seconds later, we had the third goal in as many minutes when Armstrong's shot on the turn beat Samson. Fast, furious, frenetic and utterly absorbing.
Keith Lasley
A day of such promise ultimately ended in disappointment for Motherwell

A minute from time, Rogic moved forward, picked his spot and smashed a shot past Samson to win this most gob-smacking game.

Celtic's character and quality in adversity was huge. Motherwell gave so much and did so many superb things, but, sickeningly for Mark McGhee and his team, they were denied the consolation of a point.
What the managers said

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee: "We know we're a team that concede goals. We have to fix that, somehow we have to fix that.

"Our first-half performance was fantastic, the quality of our three goals was fantastic.

"We've played a really good Celtic team, they've fought back into it and eventually they've got a winning goal. We've just got to live with that but our performance was good."

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "We were poor in the first half. We got off to an awful start.

"We changed the system at half-time to 3-4-3. We were absolutely brilliant second half. To score the four goals, to win the game, it really shows the mentality of the team.

"Across the team, I have to give them huge credit because we had to put risk in the game. They took on the risk and they got the reward. I'm delighted for them.

"That was a great, great victory for us and give credit to Motherwell as well because I thought that they were set up very, very well."
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/brendan-rodgers-building-celtic-for-2017-champions-league-1-4308045Brendan Rodgers building Celtic for 2017 Champions League

Brendan Rodgers building Celtic for 2017 Champions League

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is looking to the future
ANDREW SMITH
Celtic are likely to complete a unique Champions League campaign this week. It is unlikely they will beat Manchester City in their Etihad Stadium, meaning this will be the first of their nine group stages showings not to produce a victory.
The presence of teams from three of the top four nations, and their competitiveness at home to City and Barcelona, and away to Borussia Monchengladbach, has ensured they have been cut some slack on their return to the top table for the first time in three years.
Brendan Rodgers, though, acknowledges that next season must see them capable of wins if they progress from the Champions League qualifiers. In what, if the Fates are kinder, you would think would be a less daunting group.
The Celtic manager is building a capable team. It is likely to start to be dismantled within 18 months, so he appreciates his window for making his assembled talent count in the Champions League could be his second season.
“Hopefully we can attract in players who will want to stay for a number of years, especially if they’re young players like Moussa [Dembele]. The likelihood then is that they get snapped up and that’s great for Celtic. Everyone will benefit as the fans get to see a top young player for a few years. And if they go the key for us is getting the next one but at the right level.
“When you’re realistic and know that, then it’s fine. I’d love to say we’re going to keep the team here and build something that can grow and grow and grow. That was my frustration at Liverpool. My main objective was to get the team into the Champions League. And when we arrived there we had a lesser team than when we qualified. So that was the frustrating.
“Players will be recycled; you bring them in, they develop and improve and then they go for money. Then the next one comes in and you’re back to square one. But you’re hopeful that with your recruitment, if you’re clever and smart then you bring someone in who’s not right at the start [of their development].”