2019-02-24: Celtic 4-1 Motherwell, League

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Review

"Wee Hendo's class man."
Kieran Tierney

Rodgers: "It was a very good win. The players were very good and had good control of the game. They showed their guts and spirit after Motherwell's goal. We focused and ended up scoring top class goals after that. Huge credit to the players."

(Torquemeda of KDS)
Motherwell should be embarrassed by that. It will be interesting to hear what Steven Robinson has to say about it and to see the SMSM's take on it. A game that was a stroll in the park suddenly became a dogfight.

A good display and a good result post-Europe. More despair for the huns. They must have thought the wheels might have fallen off us after that demoralising goal — I know I was worried. But we settled down. Four excellent goals and still eight points clear. Job done!

(Haitch of KDS)
Before I talk about the Celtic performance I should mention that the Motherwell “goal” was an absolute disgrace. As a club they should be collectively embarrassed about it. From the player who started it all to the player that scored. The captain, Stephen Robinson and Alan Burrows. Hang your heads in effing shame. I would be embarrassed to be a Motherwell fan after that however they are probably not arsed, cause they are a shower of wanna be hun bastards. Eff them.

It was a brilliant Celtic performance with a mix of brilliant football in the first half and having the character to see out the game and then grab a couple late on after that whole escapade. Loved the reaction from the likes of Tierney and Ajer on the pitch as well as the strong words from BR off it. About time we stand up for ourselves more.

Wee Hendo as he appears to be called was fantastic. Looked like he was a natural in that team and I look forward to seeing more of him.

Bitton played well too and is handy player to have.

Eddy was superb, 2 great goals (the free kick especially) and his all round play. Good to see him back being the man again.

Was great to have Tierney back and he looked like he’d never been away.

Loving big Ajer just now. Done a job in midfield when he had too. That’s 3 positions he’s played in the last 2 games and has barely put a foot wrong.

Cracking performance and satisfying win. Delighted and raging at the same time

Teams

Celtic

29 Bain
2 Toljan Booked at 82mins
20 Boyata Booked at 53mins
35 Ajer Booked at 55mins
63 Tierney Substituted for Hayes at 68'minutes
6 Bitton Substituted for Burke at 84'minutes
52 Henderson
49 Forrest
17 Christie Substituted for Hendry at 54'minutes
11 Sinclair
22 Edouard Booked at 21mins

Substitutes
1 Gordon
4 Hendry
15 Hayes
23 Lustig
25 Burke
30 Weah
73 Johnston
Goals

• Sinclair (31' minutes),
• Edouard (37' minutes, 88' minutes),
• Burke (90'+1 minutes)

Motherwell

20Gillespie
14Grimshaw
5Aldred Substituted forMcHughat 23'minutes Substituted forDonnellyat 78'minutes
18Dunne
2TaitBooked at 53mins
8CampbellBooked at 87mins
23GorrinBooked at 53mins
28Turnbull
32HastieBooked at 90mins
35Scott Substituted forSammonat 65'minutes
12Ariyibi

Substitutes
4McHugh
6Hartley
11Frear
13Ferguson
19Sammon
22Donnelly
24Johnson
Goals
Ariyibi (51' minutes)

Referee:
Kevin Clancy
Attendance:

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Stats

Home Team Celtic
Away Team Motherwell

Possession
Home56%
Away44%

Shots
Home14
Away5

Shots on Target
Home8
Away1

Corners
Home5
Away3

Fouls
Home13
Away14

Articles

Celtic 4 – 1 Motherwell: Controversy as Celtic continue winning streak

Andrew Smith
Published: 17:01 Sunday 24 February 2019
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/celtic-4-1-motherwell-controversy-as-celtic-continue-winning-streak-1-4878401

The goals of significance at Celtic Park yesterday were scored by Brendan Rodgers’ side as they continued their inexorable progress towards an eighth straight title with a fiery victory that restored their eight-point advantage at the top of the table.

The goal that was more often replayed, reviewed, discussed, and debated was the one netted by Motherwell in the scattiest of scatty circumstances 52 minutes in.

With Celtic leading 2-0, no-one could anticipate what was to follow in the early minutes of the second period when Ryan Christie crumpled to the turf after pulling his hamstring. Then Kristoffer Ajer, pointing to his team-mate’s distressed state, knocked the ball out for him to receive treatment. Thereafter, all hell broke loose, with 18-year-old James Scott, in his first start, defying normal conventions by nipping in to prevent his team-mate Liam Grimshaw’s throw-in being picked up down the left channel by Kieran Tierney.

With Celtic players aghast and motionless in expectation he would stop, and even some of his team-mates appearing to shout for him to do so, the teenager buzzed forward and shot towards goal, with Scott Bain parrying his effort that then fell to Gboly Ariyibi to drive into the open net.

It was a highly controversial way to mark the first loss of a goal by Rodgers’ men on the domestic scene in 10 games, and the first from open play they had conceded in their own environs since October.

With Celtic Park in uproar and referee Kevin Clancy powerless to do other than order a goal, all manner of recriminations, shoving and shouting matches kicked off between the two sets of players. Clancy, who in this referee-bating age you could only feel enormous sympathy for, was forced to book Dedryck Boyata, Richard Tait and Alex Rodriguez-Gorin as tempers completely boiled over.

In the midst of this, visiting keeper Mark Gillespie raced to the halfway line, Rodgers stating afterwards he did so for Motherwell to allow Celtic to cancel out the goal.

There was no attempt for such reparations and, in consequence, Ajer, whose action had started the chain of events, was left incandescent as Celtic’s composure completely deserted them for a 15-minute spell thereafter.

The Norwegian and Nir Bitton, making his first start in more than a year, seemed to have a running dialogue with their opponents and the referee as the entire complexion of the afternoon changed. It was changed back by two late goals, Odsonne Edouard conjuring up a superb arcing free-kick to put the result beyond question in 88 minutes before James Forrest set up Olivier Burke to batter a first-time effort beyond Gillespie just into the nine minutes of added time.

Until the Motherwell goal, the story of the day had been the brilliance from Euan Henderson, pictured, in his first Celtic start, the 18-year-old given his opportunity courtesy of Scott Brown being suspended and Callum McGregor missing out for the first time this season with injury.

“He showed his poise, showed his control,” said Rodgers of the technically-gifted teenager. “He’s got physical development to come but he was a joy to watch, his touch and control of the game. His ball for the [second] goal was sensational and he played with real maturity so I’m delighted for him.”

Against a Motherwell side on their longest top flight winning run since 1933 with six straight Premiership victories, Henderson had been central to Celtic taking charge. They translated this into a scoring advantage just after the half hour when Tierney –in his first appearance for two months – rolled the ball back for Christie to hoist in a cross from the left that Scott Sinclair met gracefully in mid-air to send into the net with a cushioned volley.

Six minutes later Henderson’s exquisite ability was to the fore as he produced a glorious airy cross that held up perfectly for Edouard to head with fierce power in from eight yards.

Yet, the Frenchman’s two goals, to take his tally to 16 for an injury-abridged season, and Henderson’s arrival on the senior stage, seemed like sideshows by the end of another explosive afternoon in Scottish football.

For Tierney, it was one that left him head-scratching over the events surrounding Motherwell’s goal. “The only time I’ve seen a goal like it was a clip on Facebook but they actually gave them a goal back because they didn’t mean it,” he said.

“It’s mental. We actually suggested Motherwell give us a goal back because everyone thought it would happen and you would think someone in their team would have said ‘fair enough, give them a goal’.

“There was a bit of confusion and the way we centred the ball we had walked into their half as if to say ‘we’re going to score here’ but they started pressing so we had to try and keep the ball again.

“That’s just football, it’s fair play. Everyone respects everyone on the pitch but in that situation there was no respect shown.”

BBC

By Alasdair Lamont

BBC Scotland at Celtic Park

23 minutes ago From the section Scottish Premiership

Celtic's Dedryck Boyata and Motherwell's Richard Tait exchange words after Motherwell pull a goal back
Celtic players reacted angrily when Motherwell pulled a goal back, accusing them of being unsporting

Celtic beat Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership after a bad-tempered second half as they made it nine domestic wins in a row.

Celtic were 2-0 ahead through Scott Sinclair and Odsonne Edouard when the game descended into controversy.

Gboly Ariyibi scored with Celtic expecting the ball to be returned to them after a Ryan Christie injury.

That reignited the contest until Edouard and Oli Burke extinguished all doubt with two late, great finishes.

Celtic have now won 16 of their last 18 league games at home to Motherwell as they restored their eight-point lead at the top of the Premiership.

In turn, that ended Motherwell's own six-match winning streak in the Premiership.

There were injury concerns for both sides. Motherwell's Tom Aldred and Carl McHugh were both taken off with head injuries, while Christie limped off for Celtic with a hamstring concern.

Reaction and how it happened

Furious confrontations

Brendan Rodgers' side have once again dispatched a team that came to Celtic Park in super form and full of confidence.

It looked as though they would do so comfortably, but only after the departure of Aldred – who was forced off with a head gash following a clash with Edouard.

That unsettled Motherwell, who had began the match in composed fashion, and they soon found themselves behind.

Christie swung in a cross from deep, Sinclair slipped the attentions of Charles Dunne and volleyed past Mark Gillespie from just six yards out.

You sensed Motherwell needed to see the half out without conceding again, but Celtic had other ideas, scoring a second goal full of quality.

Dedryck Boyata found the impressive teenager Ewan Henderson with the outside of his right boot, the youngster whipped an early cross in from the right and Edouard was in front of his marker to flash the header into the net.

James Forrest was denied a third before the break as it appeared Celtic would go on and blow the visitors away.

But then the moment that sparked real controversy. Christie's game was over but with the game stopped to allow him treatment, Celtic expected Motherwell to give them back possession in keeping with the unwritten etiquette of the game.

Young Scott either did not know or did not care for convention as he broke away to shoot and though Scott Bain saved, Ariyibi tucked in the rebound.

The home crowd and players were apoplectic and there were furious confrontations as a result.

The incident did seem to rattle Celtic somewhat but Motherwell, though back in the game, could not take advantage.

They lost substitute McHugh to a worrying-looking head injury before Celtic put an emphatic sheen on the scoreline.

Edouard curled a beautiful free kick over the wall and past Mark Gillespie before Burke slotted past the keeper after great work from Forrest.
Scott Sinclair opens the scoring for Celtic
Scott Sinclair opens the scoring for Celtic
Celtic show their class – analysis

Had Motherwell gone on to take anything from the game, the controversy over the Ariyibi goal would have raged long and hard.

As it was, it was academic, Celtic's class coming to the fore with those late goals from their record signing, and the most expensive Scottish player ever.

Celtic will feel aggrieved that their clean-sheet record was blemished with a goal that arguably should not have happened.

But they are once again in a position of some comfort at the top of the Premiership ahead of a tricky trip to Tynecastle.

Motherwell acquitted themselves well and will continue to earn plaudits for their rebranded style of play. Unfortunately for them it was not good enough to take anything from the home of the champions.