Match Pictures | Matches: 2024 – 2025
Trivia
- KO: 15:00; Thursday; Boxing Day/St Stephen’s Day, League Match 17
- Celtic have been managing an injury crisis but signs of improvement.
- Injuries: Forrest, Johnston and Trusty out, but Kuhn & CCV back today.
- Brendan Rodgers prematch hopeful knee injury that had kept Nicolas Kuhn out is “not long term”. Thankfully back quickly, came on today and scored.
- The key point is that our squad is managed through to the YB of Berne game which now looks to be the most important left this season. Nine games in January, so we’ll again play weakened teams to rotate players. Other sides will do similar.
- Celtic top of the league on 47 pts with +44 GD, well ahead of the rest: 12 pts & +26 GD ahead of Sevco who lost 2-1 to St Mirren, Aberdeen lost 4-0 to Kilmarnock! Hibs beat Hearts 2-1.
- Yang started and was fine and won Celtic a penalty. Ralston deputised for Johnston.
- Another penalty scored by Engels who is named MOTM which is a boost for him. Brendan Rodgers left him out of recent games “just to let him see from the outside looking in and take that pressure away from him“.
- Celtic have now won 18 of their last 19 Boxing Day fixtures. It is now 12 straight victories on the date 26 December. At the other end of the pitch, Kasper Schmeichel added to his remarkable clean-sheet tally yesterday against Motherwell — it now stands at 14 from 17 league matches with the Great Dane conceding only four goals during the league campaign so far.
- Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell said after Thursday’s 4-0 loss at Celtic Park that referee Ross Hardie spoke to the visiting players like school children. Felt his Well side were on the wrong end of debatable penalty calls against Celtic.
- Marquee at the front of the South Stand open for sale of hot food and soft drinks pre match.
- Transfer window opens in January.
- Reports: Atlanta Utd (managed by Ronnie Deila) eyeing up £10m deal for Kyogo (not all convinced). Brendan Rodgers has made signing a new winger his top January priority, having been linked with Antwerp’s Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Mohammed Fuseini of Union Saint-Gilloise. Hearts striker James Wilson has no regrets over snubbing a move to England, with Liverpool, Man Utd & Celtic credited with interest in the 17-year-old.
- Reports in Brazil: Internacional made final ‘take it or leave it’ loan offer for Alexandro Bernabei.They have until Dec 31 to pay £7m. Sao Paulo circling and reputedly willing to pay, Palmeras also.
Summary
“Really pleased with the result and the performance in the second half…
“We had to be persistent… The crowd were brilliant today for us”
Brendan Rodgers
fatboab of KDS: Horseshoe first half, much more direct second half.
Not a game that will be looked back on with much affection, but events elsewhere gives it a much greater significance.
Thought we were poor in the first half, and what Taylor thinks he’s doing in the inverted role when there’s acres of space out on the wing is anyone’s guess. Too many sideways passes that just led to confusion. Yang did well to win the penalty which Engels buried.
Second half was much improved and the second goal opened the floodgates. Could and should have been six or seven, but it feels like we found a bit of form at just the right time.
Engels MOTM ? I thought he was beige. Mine will go to CCV .
El Salto of KDS: Not great in first half, or particularly bad, we just seemed a bit ponderous going forward
Got the penalty at the right time though
Second half we were much better, and moreso when the subs were made
Don’t think Taylor was all that bad, but he has to cut out those cross field passes, teams are wising to it
Hatate and Kühn were very good when they came on
Good result
harrybradycu.bsky.social @harrybradycu.bsky.social · 15h Engels excellent today. Good team performance too.
The Cynic @90minutecynic.bsky.social
Celtic 4-0 Motherwell
Celtic Victory in Numbers
▪️84% possession
▪️3.78 Total xG
▪️6 Big chances
▪️23 Total Shots/ 6 On Target
▪️16 Shots Inside the Box/ 7 Outside
▪️813 comp passes/ 873 Attempted
▪️52% of their Duels won
▪️7 Interceptions
▪️48 Recoveries
▪️57 Touches in Opp Penalty Area
E-Tims @ETimsNet · Replying to @ETimsNet FT #Celtic 4 MWell 0 Mid three took over 2nd half with Engels and Bernardo adding so much more going fwd. After Maeda 2nd goal (great corner and flick on) Celtic could have a scored 6 or 7. Good to see the goals flying in again. Big bravo to team
diggybhoy @diggyboy.bsky.social · Maeda being poor all day including a typical left footed shank into row z, then scoring a goal and nicking the ball off a Motherwell player just outside our box 30 seconds later is classic Daizen. Just love that guy
Frank Meechan @frankmeechan.bsky.social · Much better 2nd half today when we started moving the ball quicker. That would’ve been some goal if we’d scored with that last attack. Special mention to the referee who broke the play up constantly, I thought he had a really poor game.
Teams
Celtic:
Manager: Brendan Rodgers
Formation: 4 – 3 – 3
01 K. Schmeichel
03 G. Taylor, subbed for Álex Valle at 78mins
05 L. Scales
20 C. Carter-Vickers
56 A. Ralston
28 Paulo Bernardo, subbed for R. Hatate at 63mins
42 C. McGregor (c), Captain
27 A. Engels, subbed for L. McCowan at 72mins
38 D. Maeda
09 A. Idah 45’+4, Yellow Card at 45mins plus 4, subbed for K. Furuhashi at 63mins
13 Yang Hyun-Jun, subbed for N. Kühn at 63mins
Subs:
08 K. Furuhashi
41 R. Hatate
10 N. Kühn
14 L. McCowan
07 L. Palma
12 V. Sinisalo
06 A. Trusty
11 Álex Valle
57 S. Welsh
Goals:
A. Engels (45’+1 pen)
D. Maeda (57′)
N. Kühn (74′)
R. Hatate (81′)
Assists:
L. Scales (57′), A. Ralston (74′), Álex Valle (81′)
Motherwell
Manager: Stuart Kettlewell
Formation: 3 – 4 – 2 – 1
13 A. Oxborough
20 S. Blaney
05 K. Balmer
15 D. Casey 42′, Yellow Card at 42mins
23 E. Wilson
38 L. Miller (c), Captain
12 H. Paton 71′, Yellow Card at 71mins, subbed for S. Nicholson at 72mins
21 M. Kaleta, subbed for S. O’Donnell at 79mins
55 T. Maswanhise 11′, Yellow Card at 11mins, subbed for Jair Tavares at 79mins
07 T. Sparrow 45’+5, Yellow Card at 45mins plus 5, subbed for A. Halliday at 63mins
52 T. Watt 41′, Yellow Card at 41mins, subbed for A. Stamatelopoulos at 63mins
Subs:
24 M. Ebiye
04 L. Gordon
11 A. Halliday
01 K. Hegyi
19 S. Nicholson
02 S. O’Donnell
14 A. Stamatelopoulos
06 D. Zdravkovski
90 Jair Tavares
Goals:
Assists:
Ref:Referee Ross Hardie
Video Assistant Referee Steven McLean
Assistant Referee 1 Jonathan Bell
Assistant Referee 2 Gordon Crawford
Fourth Official Lloyd Wilson
Assistant VAR Official Dan McFarlane
Venue:Celtic Park
Attendance:58,687
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
Stats
Overall possession
Celtic 83.8% Motherwell 16.2%
Shots
Celtic 23 Motherwell 2
Shots on target
Celtic 7 Motherwell 0
Total touches inside the box
Celtic 57 Motherwell 9
Goalkeeper saves
Celtic 0 Motherwell 4
Fouls
Celtic 10 Motherwell 10
Corners
Celtic 6 Motherwell 3
Advanced match stats
Try our advanced match stats, including in-depth attacking and defensive stats
Shots
Celtic 23 Motherwell 2
Shots on target
Celtic 7 Motherwell 0
Shots off target
Celtic 8 Motherwell 1
Blocked shots
Celtic 8 Motherwell 1
Attempts out of box
Celtic 7 Motherwell 0
Total offside
Celtic 1 Motherwell 4
Total tackles
Celtic 13 Motherwell 19
Won tackles
Celtic 10 Motherwell 12
Fouls
Celtic 10 Motherwell 10
Total yellow cards
Celtic 1 Motherwell 5
Total clearances
Celtic 13 Motherwell 31
Headed clearances
Celtic 9 Motherwell 3
Duels won
Celtic 43 Motherwell 40
Total passes
Celtic 873 Motherwell 164
Accurate passes
Celtic 813 Motherwell 87
Backward passes
Celtic 124 Motherwell 21
Forward passes
Celtic 248 Motherwell 95
Total long balls
Celtic 19 Motherwell 58
Successful final third passes
Celtic 289 Motherwell 20
Total crosses
Celtic 29 Motherwell 8
Touches
Celtic 1066 Motherwell 316
Touches in the box
Celtic 57 Motherwell 9
Dispossessed
Celtic 10 Motherwell 9
Goalkeeper saves
Celtic 0 Motherwell 4
Diving saves
Celtic 0 Motherwell 2
Saved shots from inside the box
Celtic 0 Motherwell 3
Keeper throws
Celtic 2 Motherwell 3
Goal kicks
Celtic 4 Motherwell 17
Articles
Arne Engels Celtic game-time addressed as £11m man makes telling contribution on return to starting XI
Matthew Elder
By Matthew Elder
Deputy Sports Editor
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/latest-celtic-news/arne-engels-celtic-game-time-addressed-as-ps11m-man-makes-telling-contribution-on-return-to-starting-xi-4923239
Comments
Published 26th Dec 2024, 19:33 GMT
Updated 26th Dec 2024, 21:44 GMT
Brendan Rodgers has say on 4-0 win over Motherwell
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has explained Arne Engel’s limited recent game-time after his £11million summer signing made a notable contribution to the 4-0 win over Motherwell on his return to the starting XI.
Engels was handed only his second start in seven matches after three consecutive games on the bench and responded by scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot before delivering the corner kick which provided the second for Daizen Maeda. The Belgium international was given a standing ovation when he was replaced after 72 minutes and was then given another loud cheer later on when he was announced as the man of the match over the PA system.
Celtic substitutes Nicolas Kuhn and Reo Hatate added further gloss to the scoreline but it was the performance of Engels which particularly pleased Rodgers as he addressed the rationale behind his spell out of the team amid fluctuating form since his August arrival from Augsburg.
Celtic’s Arne Engels celebrates scoring a penalty to make it 1-0 over Motherwell. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group)
Celtic’s Arne Engels celebrates scoring a penalty to make it 1-0 over Motherwell. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group) | SNS Group
“I just think it’s about time with him,” the Celtic boss said. “He’s really enjoying his time here. I’ve taken him out for some games just to let him see from the outside looking in and take that pressure away from him because it’s a big move and everything that comes with it.
“But he’s been excellent in training and he’s only going to get better and better. When he’s asked to step up in pressure moments, he delivers and that was an important first penalty for us. His ball in for the corner was absolutely great as well. So I’m really pleased with Arne.”
Celtic had been largely frustrated by a compact Motherwell side until their controversial penalty opener when winger Hyun-jun Yang tumbled under minimal contact from visiting goalkeeper Aston Oxborough. However, a strong second half performance from the league leaders ensured the home fans went home satisfied by their team’s Boxing Day exploits after the frustrating goalless draw at Dundee United prior to Christmas.
“Games aren’t easy – you’ve really got to work ever so hard,” Rodgers reflected. “The scoreline may say that at the end, along with the possession and chances that we had, but you’ve still got to work very hard. Motherwell were well organised, compact, tight, with lots of numbers behind the ball, so you’re having to really shift them about and then you get that little break just before half-time.
“In the second half, I felt we needed to get the tempo up that wee bit more and just keep that risk in the game. The players were excellent, the guys coming into the game were very, very good as well and gave us that speed and that relentlessness to keep going and keep trying to score.”
Celtic’s Arne Engels scores a penalty to make it 1-0 over Motherwell. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group)
Celtic’s Arne Engels scores a penalty to make it 1-0 over Motherwell. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group) | SNS Group
Celtic have dropped just four points and conceded only four goals in 17 William Hill Premiership matches this season but, ominously, Rodgers feels there is still more to come from his side in the second half of the campaign.
“Yes, I think there is still more to come. If you compare the performance level to the early parts of the season, obviously, of course, you’re playing less [at that stage] and you’re maybe not as fatigued or whatever else. But still, we still demand, even in a really hectic schedule, the intensity that we want to play at. That’s our intention getting into every game. It’s important that we continue to always look to up the level. And that’s what we continually look to do.
“Against United, we didn’t create as much in the final third. We arrived there but weren’t as ruthless or as clinical as we could be. But that was there today.”
Slow-burning Celtic end up having a brilliant Boxing Day – but one player failed to impress
Matthew Elder
By Matthew Elder
Deputy Sports Editor
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/latest-celtic-news/slow-burning-celtic-end-up-having-a-brilliant-boxing-day-but-one-player-failed-to-impress-4923251
Comments
Published 26th Dec 2024, 20:29 GMT
Updated 26th Dec 2024, 21:44 GMT
Celtic celebrate convincing Boxing Day victory after first half struggle
What had been shaping up as a frustrating Boxing Day for Celtic ultimately proved to be a satisfying one as Motherwell found to their cost that a solid first half guarantees you nothing at the home of the champions.
When the clock struck 45 minutes, the away side had every reason to feel content with how they had contained the league leaders, surviving just one scare – when goalkeeper Aston Oxborough made a brilliant double save from Daizen Maeda – as Stuart Kettlewell’s men looked set to head into the interval with a clean sheet.
In the home dugout, Brendan Rodgers would have been contemplating how to solve the puzzle of a third straight half of football without a goal for his side following the stalemate at Dundee United on Sunday.
Celtic’s Daizen Maeda scores to make it 2-0 over Motherwell. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)
Celtic’s Daizen Maeda scores to make it 2-0 over Motherwell. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group) | SNS Group
That was until the game swung on a debatable penalty decision in first-half injury time, which was inflated to four minutes by VAR checks and a stoppage in play due to a medical emergency in the crowd.
Greg Taylor’s deflected cross caused uncertainty in the Motherwell defence which winger Yang Hyun-jun seized upon, sprinting inside from the right to reach the ball ahead of outrushing goalkeeper Oxborough before hitting the deck.
The contact appeared both brief and minimal – not too dissimilar to an incident in the Celtic penalty box earlier in the first half where Tawanda Maswanhise earned a yellow card for diving under Yang’s challenge – but referee Ross Hardie felt a penalty was merited on this occasion and VAR Steven McLean chose not to intervene.
It left Arne Engels with the chance to break the deadlock, which he did unerringly by firing home low and hard, while sending Oxborough the wrong way, to make it four from four from the spot for Celtic.
It was a happy ending to a half that had been a frustrating one for Celtic, and in particular for South Korean winger Yang, who could not be faulted for effort but was too often guilty of running the ball out of play as he struggled to win his individual battle with Scotland Under-21 full-back Ewan Wilson. Winning the penalty may well have saved him from the half-time hook.
The failure, marginally, to get to the break with their goal intact, could have spelt the end for Motherwell. Yet they had a huge chance to level the game 10 minutes after the restart. Maswanhise’s header from a corner was on its way into the net until it struck teammate Tony Watt and deflected over. The ex-Celtic man inadvertently doing his former side a massive favour.
From a let-off at one end, Celtic effectively put the game to bed 90 seconds later. Engels provided another major contribution in only his second start in seven appearances with a wicked corner kick delivery to the near post that Liam Scales flicked on for Maeda to leap onto with a close range diving header.
Celtic’s Arne Engels (L) celebrates scoring a penalty to make it 1-0 over Motherwell. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group)
Celtic’s Arne Engels (L) celebrates scoring a penalty to make it 1-0 over Motherwell. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group) | SNS Group
Celtic specialise in demoralising the opposition and having gone 2-0 up without a vintage performance, they then brought Nicolas Kuhn, Kyogo Furuhashi and Reo Hatate off the bench on the hour mark.
Two of the star trio managed to get on the scoresheet with deflected strikes from both Kuhn and Hatate ensuring no way back for Motherwell. By the end Celtic were playing football that was drawing oohs and aahs from the crowd but the search for a fifth proved elusive.
Given Rangers lost 2-1 at St Mirren to a stoppage-time strike, Celtic ended the day 12 points clear at the top of the Premiership – a very welcome late Christmas present.
Arne Engels: The team played well today and we’ll go again at the weekend
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2024/december/26/arne-engels–/
First Team
By Matthew Campbell
Share
26 Dec 2024, 5:58 pm
The Christmas celebrations continued at Paradise this afternoon as the Celts hammered Motherwell 4-0, completely dominating the game and giving the Celtic faithful a Boxing Day to remember.
All four of the Hoops’ goals came from different scorers and it was Arne Engels who opened the scoring from the spot near the end of the first half with a typically cool finish in to the bottom corner.
And speaking to Celtic TV after today’s victory, Engels praised the team’s performance as he reflected on scoring another penalty in the green and white.
“Everybody trains on it [taking penalties], so everybody can take a penalty,” he said. “I’m lucky that I’m the one who can take it first, but everybody is really good in training.
“It’s really important to get a goal, especially at the end of the first half because you come in to the second half with even more confidence.
‘We created a lot of chances and we also defended really well. It was really well done from the whole team.’
“The games are coming quickly and we know this. Tomorrow we are back in for a recovery and then we go again at the weekend.
“That’s what we do and that’s what we are good it, so it’s nothing special for us, we know what to do.”
Celtic deliver festive cheer with emphatic victory over Motherwell at Paradise
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2024/december/26/celtic-deliver-festive-cheer-with-emphatic-victory-over-motherwell-at-paradise/
First Team
By Paul Cuddihy, Celtic View Editor
Share
26 Dec 2024, 4:58 pm
Scottish Premiership
Thursday, December 26, 2024
Celtic Park, Glasgow
CELTIC… 4
(Engels 45+1pen, Maeda 56, Kuhn 73, Hatate 80
MOTHERWELL… 0
Brendan Rodgers’ side delivered three festive points for supporters with a dominant 4-0 Boxing Day victory over Motherwell at Celtic Park.
A first-half penalty from Arne Engels was added to after the break with goals from Daizen Maeda, Nicolas Kuhn and Reo Hatate as the Hoops got their rewards for a dominant performance.
Celtic started the game on the front foot and were dominating in terms of possession, although Motherwell were working hard to deny the Hoops any clear-cut goalscoring opportunities.
Callum McGregor was orchestrating things for Celtic in the heart of midfield, while Brendan Rodgers’ side were using both flanks as they tried to create chances.
And it was the Celtic captain who did fashion the first chance, hitting a low right-foot shot which was saved by Aston Oxborough. The ball spun into the path of Daizen Maeda but his deflected effort was saved again by the Motherwell keeper.
Just before the half-hour mark the Hoops fashioned an even better chance, this time hitting on the break.
Adam Idah fed the ball to Maeda who rolled the ball on to his left foot and took a shot which Oxborough saved.
The ball spun up into the air and headed towards goal. A combination of the Motherwell keeper and a defender blocked the ball on the line. Maeda bravely tried to head the ball in but it was cleared.
The Japanese winger was also doing his best to create chances for his team-mates, and on 38 minutes he delivered a dangerous ball into the box which Idah connected with, but it was comfortably saved.
The breakthough eventually came in the last minute of the first-half after Yang was fouled by the Motherwell keeper inside the box, and Arne Engels coolly converted the resultant spot-kick.
84%
Possession
16%
23
Shots
2
7
Shots On Target
0
6
Corners
3
10
Fouls
10
1
0
Cards
5
0
Celtic started the second-half intent on adding to their first-half goal, and Cameron Carter-Vickers had a chance from an Engels corner, but the keeper dealt with the danger.
At the other end, Motherwell had a rare opportunity in the 54th minute and should have grabbed an equaliser. A ball into the box from Lennon Miller found the head of Tawanda Maswanhise, but his goalbound effort was deflected over the bar by Tony Watt.
And just three minutes later, it was 2-0 to Celtic. Arne Engels’ corner was flicked on by Liam Scales and Daizen Maeda met it at the far post to bullet home a header.
Engels then came close with a 20-yard free-kick that went just over the bar, but the Hoops didn’t have to wait too long for their third goal of the game.
It came in the 73rd minute from one of the second-half substitutes, Nicolas Kuhn, who gathered the ball 25 yards from goal, strode forward and fired a low shot which took a deflection off a Motherwell defender and spun into the back of the net.
Celtic were in complete control of proceedings and it became 4-0 in the 80th minute courtesy of a superb 20-yard strike from Reo Hatate which nestled in the bottom corner of the net.
Kyogo came close to scoring Celtic’s fifth of the afternoon when he connected with a cross at the near post, but his effort was well saved, and moments later Liam Scales saw a diving header from an Anthony Ralston cross flash just wide of the target.
Celtic: Schmeichel, Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor (Valle 78′), Engels (McCowan 72′), McGregor, Paulo Bernardo (Hatate 63′), Hyunjun Yang (Kühn 63′), Idah (Kyogo 63′), Maeda
Subs: Trusty, Palma, Kyogo, Kühn, Valle, Sinisalo, McCowan, Hatate, Welsh
Motherwell: Oxborough, Casey, Balmer, Blaney, Kaleta (O’Donnell 79′), Paton (Nicholson 72′), Miller, Wilson, Sparrow (Halliday 63′), Maswanhise (Jair Tavares 79′), Watt (Stamatelopoulos 63′)
Subs: Hegyi, O’Donnell, Gordon, Zdravkovski, Halliday, Stamatelopoulos, Nicholson, Ebiye, Jair Tavares
…
BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cn4xj4l41kpt#Report
Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland
Celtic “didn’t panic” despite a shaky start in their 4-0 Scottish Premiership victory over Motherwell, says manager Brendan Rodgers.
After drawing at Dundee United on Sunday, the league leaders took time to get going but the breakthrough came in first-half injury time when Aston Oxborough collided with Hyunjun Yang to give Celtic a penalty.
Arne Engels stepped up and slotted into the bottom-left corner, sending the Motherwell keeper the wrong way.
Celtic had enjoyed the better chances in the first half, most notably when Daizen Maeda’s strike was blocked by Oxborough, and although the Motherwell goalkeeper almost sent the ball into his own net, he and his defence scrambled it clear.
“Motherwell were very organised and made it difficult for us in the first half,” Rodgers said. “We had to improve, keep going and take the risk with the passes.
“In the second half we just needed to up the tempo and the players did that ever so well, pressed the game when we had to, and we looked really creative.”
Celtic escaped an early second-half scare when Tony Watt turned his back on Tawanda Maswanhise’s shot on Kasper Schmeichel’s goalline and deflected it behind.
And the hosts struck again when Engels’ corner was flicked on by Liam Scales and rocketed into the back of the net off the head of Daizen Maeda.
Nicolas Kuhn got the third when his low shot from just outside the box was deflected off Motherwell’s Kofi Balmer and flashed into the far corner.
And Reo Hatate added the fourth with a similar strike as he fired low into the other corner beyond the stretching Oxborough.
“At this time in the season it’s difficult to play in quick succession but I thought the players’ focus in the game was very good,” Rodgers added.
“They didn’t panic and they got the rewards.”
Follow everything Celtic on BBC Sport
Latest Motherwell news and analysis
Celtic back with bang at Parkhead
The goalless draw at Dundee United last weekend left the Celtic fans frustrated.
Despite continuing their unbeaten run, many felt the reigning champions should have cruised past Jim Goodwin’s promoted side.
For 45 minutes at Parkhead on Boxing Day, it looked like supporters may have been destined for more disappointment but Engels gave them a much-needed boost before the break.
Rodgers’ men came out in the second half looking much more like their old selves and managed to put another three goals on the scoresheet.
Keeping their consistency is going to be key as Celtic attempt to navigate a busy run of Premiership games over the coming weeks, as they host St Johnstone before a trip to Ibrox in the new year, followed up by a visit from St Mirren.
Motherwell missing clinical edge
The scoreline probably doesn’t reflect how competitive Motherwell were, certainly in the first half.
Despite being under the cosh for the majority of the first 45 minutes, Stuart Kettlewell’s side held firm in defence and even managed to craft out some of their own opportunities.
Maswanhise looked threatening at times and, were it not for his own team-mate Watt, could have got the visitors back in the game.
But Motherwell slip to fifth after Dundee United’s victory over St Johnstone, although they’re only two points behind the Tangerines.
Next up though, a visit from the other half of the Old Firm as Rangers travel to Fir Park.
What they said
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: “Motherwell were very organised and made it difficult for us in the first half.
“In the second half we just needed to up the tempo and the players did that ever so well, pressed the game when we had to, and we looked really creative.”
Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell: “I felt we were heading in at half-time having limited Celtic to very little and then the penalty is awarded, which is the frustration.
“You’re starting to think you can go in, galvanise yourselves and try to pick yourselves up at half-time.”