Motherwell ended the year and a 35-game winless run against Celtic with a stylish and dominating display against the league champions.
A goal early in each half sealed the long overdue win. Ibrahim Said’s first goal for the club after 13 minutes set the tone for a commanding performance. And when Elliot Watt capitalised on poor defending eight minutes into the second-half the game was over for a Celtic side that was completely outplayed.
And with Kasper Schmeichel by far the busier keeper, the scoreline could have been more emphatic.
With just three days since their last game, the Motherwell starting 11 had three changes. Stephen Welsh dropped out completely, as the defender is unable to play against his parent club. Emmanuel Longelo and Callum Hendry also came out of the team, with Stephen O’Donnell, Oscar Priestman and Callum Slattery called into the side.
After facing the other side of the Old Firm three days ago, Motherwell were looking to pick up a more positive outcome this time round.
With the play largely contained in the Celtic half, it was hardly a surprise when Motherwell’s pressure paid off with the opening goal after 13 minutes.
Stephen O’Donnell’s measured long ball from the right touchline picked out Said nipping between Austin Trusty and Liam Sales before firmly heading the ball beyond the static keeper.
It should have been 2-0 five minutes later. Elliot Watt’s smart pass split the Celtic defence, allowing Lukas Fadinger to run unchallenged on goal, but the Austrian dithered, giving Scales time to recover and snuff out the chance.
The Steelmen’s slick exchange of passes and then breaking in number towards the Celtic box produced more openings as the visitors looked slow to respond.
Said’s physicality and quick feet were a continual problem, and after getting space at the edge of the box, his thumping shot was blocked. A minute later, Just kept his composure on the left of the box before curling a ball beyond Kasper Schmeichel and narrowly beyond his right-hand post.
On the half hour, Said literally brushed off a challenge before setting up Johnny Koutroumbis on the left, and his low shot forced a save from the Celtic ‘keeper.
As the ‘Well players took a well-deserved ovation at the end of a first half they totally dominated, they might have doubled their advantage in preparation for an anticipated response from Celtic in the second half.
The Celtic boss thought the same and made three changes at the interval.
The first chance of the half though came ‘Well’s Way’, and after a powerful run down the right, Just’s drive from a tight angle forced Schmeichel into a block at his near post.
A minute later, Calum Ward was called into action for the first time, diving low to his right to push away Shin Yamada’s low effort. That was enough for the huge travelling support to raise their voices after a subdued 50 minutes.
However, the Celtic fans were silenced eight minutes later when some comic defending cost their side a second goal.
Schmeichel’s poor pass caught out Arne Engels at the edge of his box. As the Motherwell players pressed the loose ball, it rolled into Watt’s path, who swept it home from 12 yards to make it 2-0 and take a firm grip of the game.
Motherwell’s attack on the Celtic goal was relentless, and after 67 minutes, Just again tested the ‘keeper with a left-foot drive after withstanding Scales’ challenge out on the right.
Three minutes later, Just burst through the middle before setting up Slattery, and his powerful drive again forced a save from an overworked Schmeichel.
After tormenting the Celtic defence for 75 minutes, Just made way for Callum Slattery. And as his teammates started to tire, Celtic had more of the ball in the final 10 minutes. Ward was well protected, and although he produced an outstanding save, plucking Benjamin Nygren’s shot from his top right-hand corner, he extended his run of clean sheets at Fir Park to six games.
Motherwell Team: Ward, Sparrow, O’Donnell, McGinn, Koutroumbis, Watt, Priestman, Fadinger, Slattery, Said, Just.
Motherwell Subs: Connelly, Longelo, Gordon, Balmer, Hendry, McAllister, Osong, Stamatelopoulos, Ross.
