2021-02-06: Celtic 2-1 Motherwell, League

Match Pictures | Matches: 20202021


Trivia

  • KO: 3pm Saturday match
  • Debut goal for Welsh, and is man of the match. Appears to be only youth player who is progressing.
  • Cobra Kai/Karate Kid style tackle/kick at Soro and elbow on Brown during the match! Officiating was abysmal!
  • Celtic academy is being decimated under current turmoil at the club: Angelini looks like he’s off. Cameron Harper to NY Red Bulls. Liam Hughes has joined Liverpool. Josh Adams moved to Manchester City. Liam Morrison and Barry Hepburn left to Bayern Munich. Karamoko Dembele expected away. Frimpong already away.
  • Compassionate grounds were given by Celtic manager Neil Lennon for Hatem Abd Elhamed being allowed to leave the club, a deal agreed that will see Israeli defender return to old club Hapoel Be’er Sheeva.
  • Six nations starts today and so last circuit for SRU chief exec Dom Mckay who is incoming to Celtic. A historic win v England at Twickenham! First away win since 1983. Great victory but the players have spoiled it all by lack of respect with only four Scots and 12 English players taking the knee. If this was football there would be hell to pay. Rugby has a very dodgy history wrt racial issues, players should show some solidarity with others.
  • US Super Bowl 2021: Tom Brady wins seventh title as Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat Kansas City Chiefs.

Summary

Good to get another win, but this wasn’t a convincing win for many viewers, and a last minute goal line clearance saved Celtic from further dropped points. Taylor got a lot of plaudits, but Welsh a new hero and probably the only Celtic youth prospect who has propsered, a cynic would say by accident under Lennon. Anyhow, 3 pts and some progress.

Chris Sutton in the papers chastising Celtic that not planning already for next season with new coaches etc. He has a big point.

Neil Lennon on this season:
“I’m happy with the way I have dealt with things and my conscience is clear about how I’ve gone about my work as well.
“It certainly galvanises me, yes.
“In a perverse kind of way I quite enjoy it.”
“I’m not running out on or giving up on my players. I believe we have a fine squad and it’s just not been our year.
Hopefully that can change over the next one, two, three, four seasons going forward.”


Teams

Celtic:

  • 29Bain
  • 16Kenny
  • 57Welsh
  • 35Ajer
  • 3Taylor
  • Substituted forLaxaltat 70’minutes
  • 8Brown
  • Substituted forSoroat 70’minutes
  • 14Turnbull
  • Substituted forElyounoussiat 80’minutes
  • 42McGregor
  • 18Rogic
  • 22Edouard
  • 10Ajeti
    • Substituted forGriffithsat 68’minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Barkas
  • 4Duffy
  • 9Griffiths
  • 11Klimala
  • 12Soro
  • 19Johnston
  • 27Elyounoussi
  • 52Henderson
  • 93Laxalt

Goals:

    Welsh (2′ minutes), Edouard (50′ minutes)

Assists:

    Turnbull (2′ minutes), McGregor (50′ minutes)

M’well

  • 13Kelly
  • 33O’Donnell
  • 16Mugabi
  • 4Lamie
  • 3Carroll
  • 6Campbell
  • 8Crawford
  • Substituted forO’Haraat 68’minutes
  • 15Maguire
  • Substituted forSmithat 81’minutesBooked at 90mins
  • 9Long
  • 44ColeBooked at 90mins
  • 32WattBooked at 68mins
    • Substituted forRobertsat 68’minutes

Substitutes

  • 7O’Hara
  • 11Hastie
  • 19Polworth
  • 23Morrison
  • 26Cornelius
  • 27Johnston
  • 29Smith
  • 39Roberts
  • 40Magloire

Goals:Campbell (66′ minutes)

Assists:    O’Donnell (66′ minutes)

Ref: Nick Walsh

Att: none covid


Articles

  • Match Report (see below)

Pictures


Match Links

  • Prior
  • Match
  • Post
  • MoTM

Stats

CelticAway TeamMotherwell

Possession

    Home66%

    Away34%

Shots

    Home22

    Away7

Shots on Target

    Home9

    Away5

Corners

    Home5

    Away3

Fouls

    Home16

    Away8


Articles

Match ends, Celtic 2, Motherwell 1.

90’+4′

Full Time

Second Half ends, Celtic 2, Motherwell 1.

90’+4′

Post update

Attempt saved. Harry Smith (Motherwell) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jordan Roberts with a cross.

90’+3′

Post update

Attempt blocked. Harry Smith (Motherwell) header from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Ricki Lamie with a cross.

90’+2′

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Foul by Stephen Welsh (Celtic).

90’+2′

Post update

Harry Smith (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

90’+1′

Booking

Harry Smith (Motherwell) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

90’+1′

Post update

Stephen Welsh (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90’+1′

Post update

Foul by Harry Smith (Motherwell).

90′

Booking

Devante Cole (Motherwell) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

89′

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Ismaila Soro (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

89′

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Foul by Devante Cole (Motherwell).

88′

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Attempt saved. Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ismaila Soro.

87′

Post update

Hand ball by Allan Campbell (Motherwell).

86′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Allan Campbell.

86′

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Attempt blocked. Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Leigh Griffiths.

84′

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Foul by Ismaila Soro (Celtic).

84′

Post update

Jordan Roberts (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

81′

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Offside, Celtic. Leigh Griffiths tries a through ball, but Kristoffer Ajer is caught offside.

81′

Substitution

Substitution, Motherwell. Harry Smith replaces Barry Maguire.

80′

Substitution

Substitution, Celtic. Mohamed Elyounoussi replaces David Turnbull.

80′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Liam Kelly.

80′

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Attempt saved. Tomas Rogic (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Jonjoe Kenny.

78′

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Corner, Motherwell. Conceded by Diego Laxalt.

77′

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Attempt blocked. Devante Cole (Motherwell) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Chris Long.

75′

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Foul by David Turnbull (Celtic).

75′

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Allan Campbell (Motherwell) wins a free kick on the right wing.

71′

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Foul by David Turnbull (Celtic).

71′

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Allan Campbell (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

70′

Substitution

Substitution, Celtic. Diego Laxalt replaces Greg Taylor.

70′

Substitution

Substitution, Celtic. Ismaila Soro replaces Scott Brown.

70′

Post update

Attempt missed. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by David Turnbull.

68′

Substitution

Substitution, Motherwell. Mark O’Hara replaces Robbie Crawford.

68′

Substitution

Substitution, Motherwell. Jordan Roberts replaces Tony Watt.

68′

Substitution

Substitution, Celtic. Leigh Griffiths replaces Albian Ajeti.

68′

Booking

Tony Watt (Motherwell) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

67′

Post update

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

67′

Post update

Foul by Tony Watt (Motherwell).

67′

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Attempt blocked. Jonjoe Kenny (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

66′

Goal!

Goal! Celtic 2, Motherwell 1. Allan Campbell (Motherwell) right footed shot from outside the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Stephen O’Donnell.

65′

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Attempt missed. Bevis Mugabi (Motherwell) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Barry Maguire with a cross following a corner.

64′

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Corner, Motherwell. Conceded by Scott Bain.

64′

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Attempt saved. Devante Cole (Motherwell) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Chris Long.

61′

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Attempt missed. Albian Ajeti (Celtic) header from the left side of the six yard box is too high. Assisted by David Turnbull with a cross following a corner.

61′

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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Liam Kelly.

61′

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Attempt saved. David Turnbull (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Greg Taylor.

59′

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Attempt missed. Tomas Rogic (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Albian Ajeti.

57′

Post update

Foul by Jonjoe Kenny (Celtic).

57′

Post update

Barry Maguire (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

56′

Post update

Attempt missed. Albian Ajeti (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Callum McGregor.

53′

Post update

Greg Taylor (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.

53′

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Foul by Stephen O’Donnell (Motherwell).

50′

Goal!

Goal! Celtic 2, Motherwell 0. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Callum McGregor.

48′

Post update

Foul by Jonjoe Kenny (Celtic).

48′

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Tony Watt (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

47′

Post update

Attempt saved. David Turnbull (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Jonjoe Kenny with a cross.

46′

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Attempt missed. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Greg Taylor.

Second Half

Second Half begins Celtic 1, Motherwell 0.

45’+1′

Half Time

First Half ends, Celtic 1, Motherwell 0.

45′

Post update

Attempt saved. Chris Long (Motherwell) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

44′

Post update

Foul by Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic).

44′

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Chris Long (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

41′

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Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

41′

Post update

Foul by Devante Cole (Motherwell).

40′

Post update

Attempt blocked. Tomas Rogic (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Albian Ajeti.

39′

Post update

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

39′

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Foul by Barry Maguire (Motherwell).

38′

Post update

Foul by Stephen Welsh (Celtic).

38′

Post update

Allan Campbell (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

36′

Post update

Offside, Motherwell. Ricki Lamie tries a through ball, but Devante Cole is caught offside.

36′

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Foul by Tomas Rogic (Celtic).

36′

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Jake Carroll (Motherwell) wins a free kick on the left wing.

33′

Post update

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).

33′

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Tony Watt (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

26′

Post update

Hand ball by Albian Ajeti (Celtic).

23′

Post update

Corner, Motherwell. Conceded by Callum McGregor.

21′

Post update

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).

21′

Post update

Chris Long (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

21′

Post update

Attempt blocked. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jonjoe Kenny.

20′

Post update

Foul by David Turnbull (Celtic).

20′

Post update

Barry Maguire (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

19′

Post update

Attempt blocked. Tomas Rogic (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

18′

Post update

Attempt saved. Jonjoe Kenny (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Tomas Rogic.

16′

Post update

Foul by Stephen Welsh (Celtic).

16′

Post update

Devante Cole (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

16′

Post update

Attempt saved. Albian Ajeti (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

14′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Bevis Mugabi.

14′

Post update

Attempt blocked. David Turnbull (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Greg Taylor.

10′

Post update

Foul by Tomas Rogic (Celtic).

10′

Post update

Stephen O’Donnell (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

10′

Post update

Attempt blocked. Tomas Rogic (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

8′

Post update

Foul by Tomas Rogic (Celtic).

8′

Post update

Jake Carroll (Motherwell) wins a free kick on the left wing.

6′

Post update

Attempt saved. David Turnbull (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

4′

Post update

Attempt missed. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Greg Taylor with a cross.

3′

Post update

Jonjoe Kenny (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

3′

Post update

Foul by Tony Watt (Motherwell).

2′

Goal!

Goal! Celtic 1, Motherwell 0. Stephen Welsh (Celtic) header from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by David Turnbull with a cross following a corner.

2′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jake Carroll.

Kick Off

First Half begins.

BBC

By Andrew SouthwickBBC Scotland

Last updated on

1 hour ago1 hour ago.From the section Scottish Premiership

Odsonne Edouard scored Celtic’s crucial second goal

Odsonne Edouard scored Celtic’s crucial second goal

Motherwell’s mindset against bigger clubs has to change says manager Graham Alexander after his side were edged out by Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.

Celtic won back-to-back games league games for the first time since December, but after Allan Campbell scored for Motherwell they made it a nervy finish for the champions.

And Alexander wants his team to stop treating Celtic away as a “free hit”.

“Every game is an opportunity to win points,” Alexander told BBC Scotland.

“I don’t want it to be seen when we play the big clubs as a free hit and we just look at the next game. And we were so close to taking a point there. Every game we have to have belief we can cause the opposition problems.”

Motherwell fell behind to an early Stephen Welsh header, his first goal for the champions, before Odsonne Edouard added a second.

Campbell scored a find counter to get Motherwell back into the game, and the visitors also had strong claims for a first-half penalty.

The win leaves Celtic 20 points behind Premiership leaders Rangers with a game in hand.

Motherwell remain ninth after losing for the first time in three games, but they were left to ponder what might have been after missing late chances to earn a point.

    Reaction & as it happened

    Elhamed set for return to Israel

It was a whirlwind start from Celtic. Their first attack earned a corner, from which Welsh powerfully headed home his first goal for the Glasgow club.

From there, they looked in the mood. Edouard flashed a header wide from close range, before David Turnbull twice went close from outside the area and debutant Jonjoe Kenny had a low shot blocked by the goalkeeper as Motherwell were rocked against the ropes.

In the midst of the pressure though, Bevis Mugabi met a Motherwell free-kick but headed weakly at keeper Scott Bain.

For all Celtic’s possession, the visitors were only a goal behind and they continued to carry a threat themselves.

Chris Long’s jinking run was curtailed by Kristoffer Ajer on the edge of the box, with debate over whether it should have been a penalty. A free-kick was given, from which Long forced a save from Bain.

Something had to give, though, as Motherwell allowed Celtic too much of the ball. Edouard and Turnbull both passed up chances, before the former exchanged passes with McGregor and drove the ball inside the near post to double the lead.

Celtic didn’t relent. Turnbull had a long-range shot tipped wide and Ajeti headed over from close range. But just as you thought Celtic were going to run over the visitors, back came Motherwell.

Devante Cole’s shot was saved and Mugabi headed wide from close range, but they pulled one back when Campbell superbly chipped Bain from outside the area.

All of a sudden Celtic were hanging on. Long drove a ball across the box, but Cole did not know much about it and it hit off him, while Jordan Roberts could not get to the loose ball at the back post.

At the other end, Liam Kelly brilliantly palmed away Tom Rogic’s powerful shot and Mohamed Elyounoussi’s effort was deflected just past a post.

But as the seconds ticked away Motherwell almost snatched a point. Harry Smith met a looping cross, headed towards the far post, and Diego Laxalt had to clear off the goalline with almost the last kick.

Man of the match – Greg Taylor

Celtic’s Greg Taylor

The full-back was a constant menace down the left hand side for Celtic, linking well with Callum McGregor and Albian Ajeti and providing some good crosses into the box

What did we learn?

The midweek win over Kilmarnock had installed confidence in Celtic. The early goal settled any early nerves and they played to a level above what they have been at for some time.

But when they conceded their confidence was frazzled, and in the end they may count themselves fortunate to have taken all three points. It was very much a case of impressive going forward but unconvincing still at the back.

Motherwell deserve credit for having an attacking mindset. In the first half, they gave Celtic far too much of the ball and were punished for it, but they kept at it and could have taken home a point on another day.

What did they say?

Motherwell equaliser ‘would have been an injustice’ – Neil Lennon

Celtic manager Neil Lennon: “I thought we were superb for long periods and 2-0 didn’t flatter us – we deserved to be more in front. Then Motherwell got a bit of luck with their goal and the psychology of the game changes.

“We got a bit anxious towards the end, but thoroughly deserved the win. We had to rely on Diego for a great clearance at the end, but an equaliser would have been a great injustice.”

Motherwell manager Graham Alexander: “I thought we really grew into the game, we had more confidence on the ball, and we scored a great goal from Allan Campbell who from me was the best player on the pitch.

“We went so close to getting that equaliser and on our second-half performance I think we would have deserved it.”

What’s next?