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Celtic 2-1 Motherwell: Back-to-back wins for Neil Lennon’s side

Odsonne Edouard scored Celtic's crucial second goal
Odsonne Edouard scored Celtic’s crucial second goal

Celtic won back-to-back games in the Scottish Premiership for the first time since December as they saw off a spirited Motherwell on Saturday.

Stephen Welsh scored his first goal for the champions with an early header and Odsonne Edouard drilled home a second.

Allan Campbell scored a fine goal for Motherwell, who earlier 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.

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?

Celtic are away to St Mirren on Wednesday (18:00 GMT kick-off), while Motherwell visit Kilmarnock on the same evening (18:00).

Player of the match

WelshStephen Welsh

with an average of 7.96

Celtic

  1. Squad number57Player nameWelsh

    Average rating

    7.96

  2. Squad number14Player nameTurnbull

    Average rating

    5.77

  3. Squad number3Player nameTaylor

    Average rating

    5.66

  4. Squad number22Player nameEdouard

    Average rating

    5.65

  5. Squad number16Player nameKenny

    Average rating

    5.65

  6. Squad number35Player nameAjer

    Average rating

    5.57

  7. Squad number42Player nameMcGregor

    Average rating

    5.54

  8. Squad number18Player nameRogic

    Average rating

    5.29

  9. Squad number12Player nameSoro

    Average rating

    5.17

  10. Squad number29Player nameBain

    Average rating

    5.09

  11. Squad number93Player nameLaxalt

    Average rating

    5.03

  12. Squad number8Player nameBrown

    Average rating

    4.98

  13. Squad number27Player nameElyounoussi

    Average rating

    4.88

  14. Squad number10Player nameAjeti

    Average rating

    4.85

  15. Squad number9Player nameGriffiths

    Average rating

    4.59

Motherwell

  1. Squad number6Player nameCampbell

    Average rating

    7.25

  2. Squad number8Player nameCrawford

    Average rating

    7.13

  3. Squad number44Player nameCole

    Average rating

    7.11

  4. Squad number9Player nameLong

    Average rating

    7.10

  5. Squad number16Player nameMugabi

    Average rating

    7.07

  6. Squad number33Player nameO’Donnell

    Average rating

    7.02

  7. Squad number13Player nameKelly

    Average rating

    7.02

  8. Squad number3Player nameCarroll

    Average rating

    6.98

  9. Squad number15Player nameMaguire

    Average rating

    6.89

  10. Squad number7Player nameO’Hara

    Average rating

    6.69

  11. Squad number4Player nameLamie

    Average rating

    6.63

  12. Squad number32Player nameWatt

    Average rating

    6.63

  13. Squad number39Player nameRoberts

    Average rating

    6.58

  14. Squad number29Player nameSmith

    Average rating

    6.38

Line-ups

Celtic

Formation 4-1-2-1-2

  • 29Bain
  • 16Kenny
  • 57Welsh
  • 35Ajer
  • 3TaylorSubstituted forLaxaltat 71′minutes
  • 8BrownSubstituted forSoroat 70′minutes
  • 14TurnbullSubstituted forElyounoussiat 80′minutes
  • 42McGregor
  • 18Rogic
  • 22Edouard
  • 10AjetiSubstituted forGriffithsat 68′minutes

Substitutes

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

Motherwell

Formation 4-3-3

  • 13Kelly
  • 33O’Donnell
  • 16Mugabi
  • 4Lamie
  • 3Carroll
  • 6Campbell
  • 8CrawfordSubstituted forO’Haraat 68′minutes
  • 15MaguireSubstituted forSmithat 81′minutesBooked at 90mins
  • 9Long
  • 44ColeBooked at 90mins
  • 32WattBooked at 68minsSubstituted forRobertsat 69′minutes

Substitutes

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

Referee:
Nick Walsh

Match Stats

Live Text

  1. Match ends, Celtic 2, Motherwell 1.

  2. Second Half ends, Celtic 2, Motherwell 1.

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

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

  5. Foul by Stephen Welsh (Celtic).

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

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

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

  9. Foul by Harry Smith (Motherwell).

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

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

  12. Foul by Devante Cole (Motherwell).

  13. 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.

  14. Hand ball by Allan Campbell (Motherwell).

  15. Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Allan Campbell.

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

  17. Foul by Ismaila Soro (Celtic).

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

  19. Substitution, Motherwell. Harry Smith replaces Barry Maguire.

  20. Substitution, Celtic. Mohamed Elyounoussi replaces David Turnbull.

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