[tab:Match report]
Phil McGhee Fir Park
Motherwell failed to trouble Celtic in a fairly low-key afternoon at Fir Park as the SPFL leaders ran out narrow 0-1 winners.
Despite falling behind to a Nadir Ciftci goal after only 14 minutes, the Fir Parkers, with Kieran Kennedy and Stephen McManus commanding at the back, survived a first half dominated by Celtic before contributing more in the second.
After a well-respected minute’s applause for Joe Wark from a near 9,000 crowd, Motherwell kicked off McGhee’s second reign in the home dugout.
And the new ‘Well boss raised a few eyebrows with his first team selection with Keith Lasley, Scott McDonald and Lionel Ainsworth all starting on the subs’ bench.
That pitched Louis Laing into a holding midfield role and his strength alongside Liam Grimshaw’s energy and drive gave ‘Well a stable look defensively, particularly in the second half.
Wes Fletcher making his first start since August, tested Craig Gordon after five minutes, but his low curling shot was easily taken by the Celtic ‘keeper.
Although not seeing much of the ball, Motherwell looked fairly comfortable when, out of nothing, the visitors took the lead. The ‘Well defence failed to deal with a whipped ball into the box and when Connor Ripley could only beat out Kris Common’s snap shot, Nadir Ciftci steered the rebound beyond the grounded ‘keeper.
A penetrating run from Stephen Pearson carried him to the byeline before finding Fletcher at the corner of the six yard box, but the close marking Dedryck Boyata prevented the striker turning and forcing a shot on goal.
At the other end, Ripley had to palm a 30 yard free kick from Commons over his crossbar.
Ten minutes from half-time Celtic came close to doubling their lead. A McManus challenge on Tom Rogic 25-yards in front of goal provided Commons with another free kick, which he curled over the defensive wall and thankfully for ‘Well off the face of the crossbar.
By the start of the second half the morning mist had disappeared leaving the Fir Park pitch in summer sunshine as the Steelmen made a brighter start.
Within seven minutes of the restart Ainsworth replaced Louis Moult just before a fine run and cross from Josh Law was nervously screwed over his own crossbar by Efe Ambrose.
Motherwell then survived strong appeals for a penalty when Kennedy appeared to handle the ball inside the six yard box.
Minutes later the central defender was just off the mark at the other end when he swivelled to meet a Law head-flick, only to steer his volley wide of goal.
With hopes of stealing an equaliser, Scott McDonald, a scorer of memorable goals with both clubs, replaced Fletcher, before Dom Thomas came on at the expense of Johnson
A half chance did come Motherwell’s way when Ainsworth’s freekick found its way to Kennedy at the back of the six yard box but his poor first touch allowed the ball to run out of play.
Ripley, who had a relatively quiet second half, then had a couple of saves, punching away a powerful Leigh Griffith’s drive before going to ground to end Common’s run into the box.
The ‘Well defence held firm to the end and although they failed to create a clear cut chance at the other end, the Fir Parkers finished the game still chasing an equaliser that might have been well beyond them on the evidence of the first half.
[tab:As it happened]
Ally Reilly at Fir Park
Full time, Motherwell 0 – 1 Celtic
90′ | 0-1
Three minutes added on
82′ | 0-1
Boyata slides in Commons but it’s good covering by Law and the Celtic man can only poke it at Ripley.
79′ | 0-1
Ainsworth whips in a free-kick which Kennedy gets on the end of but his touch lets him down and it goes out for a goal kick
78′ | 0-1
McDonald booked for a heavy challenge on Ambrose
75′ | 0-1
Celtic sub, Bitton limps off for McGregor
71′ | 0-1
Motherwell sub, Thomas on for Johnson
And a Celtic change, Mackay-Steven on for Armstrong
65′ | 0-1
Motherwell sub, McDonald on for Fletcher
64′ | 0-1
Celtic work some space for Brown who shoots wide for the post from 25 yards.
60′ | 0-1
Nearly the equaliser there as Kennedy hits a volley on the turn from just inside the box but it flashes just wide.
59′ | 0-1
Celtic sub, Ciftci off for Griffiths
58′ | 0-1
Motherwell camped in their own box under a lot of pressure. Celtic denied what looked like a penalty there for handball. A let off
55′ | 0-1
Great chance for Commons inside the box but Grimshaw did enough to put him off and he shoots wide.
54′ | 0-1
Great ball in from Law towards Johnson but Ambrose does enough to prod it out for a corner.
53′ | 0-1
Motherwell sub, Moult makes way for Ainsworth
50′ | 0-1
Kennedy tackles Brown inside the box, claims for the penalty but ref waves it away.
Both teams back out the tunnel. No changes for either side,
HT: Motherwell 0 – 1 Celtic #MFCvCFC
43′ | 0-1
Good ball in from Izaguirre finds the head of Boyata who bullets his header just wide of the post.
38′ | 0-1
Johnson wins the ball wide on the right and draws the foul from Brown. Good ball in from Johnson but no takers.
…Commons curls it off the bar. Too close for comfort.
36′ | 0-1
Free-kick to Celtic in a very dangerous position, about 25 yards out…..
28′ | 0-1
Kennedy clears to Bitton who shoots first time from 20 yards. Well over the bar.
26′ | 0-1
Pearson escapes a booking, after a heavy tackle on Ambrose in the Celtic half.
23′ | 0-1
Commons has a shot from distance but Ripley manages to get two hands on it and push it over the bar. Corner to Celtic.
21′ | 0-1
Pearson bursts forward and crosses to Fletcher but he is dispossessed by Boyata at the front post.
15′ | 0-1
Goal – Ripley’s save from Commons’ shot falls at the feet of Ciftci who fires Celtic 1-0 up.
13′ | 0-0
Armstrong claims for a penalty but Johnson had fairly used his strength to nudge him off the ball.
11′ | 0-0
Armstong gets down the left and cuts inside. His right footed shot trickles wide of the post.
8′ | 0-0
Another Celtic corner, Chalmers knocking Ambrose’s cross wide of the post.
5′ | 0-0
Pearson wins the ball and plays in Fletcher who takes on the shot with his left foot but it is easy for Gordon to make the stop.
4′ | 0-0
McManus deflects Ciftci’s shot wide for a Celtic corner. Blackett gets his head to the delivery but nods it wide.
Grimshaw and Moult get the ball rolling. COYW!!!
Both sides and sets of fans observing a minutes applause for club legend, Joe Wark.
Out come the teams from the tunnel….
[tab:Reaction]
Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:
“For 70 minutes I was really satisfied. We should have scored more goals, we should have had at least one penalty, maybe two. For the last 20 we should have been more brave on the ball.
“We are in a good run now. We go into every game to win. We look forward to it and now it’s just about keeping the momentum.”
Celtic manager Ronny Deila:
“There was a 20-minute spell – 60 or 55 minutes in – where I felt we did a lot better. But you’re never sure that they’re not going to get another goal.
“We might have nicked something but them winning 1-0 was just about the balance of the game.”
[tab:Man-of-the-match]
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