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“Ultimately we lost the game to a better side. We tried to play but they punished us.”

Stephen Robinson reacts to the defeat to Celtic.

A dogged performance from Motherwell wasn’t enough as Celtic’s clinical edge gave them all three points.

James Forrest, Albian Ajeti and Christopher Jullien were all on target to secure the victory for Neil Lennon’s men.

Manager Stephen Robinson made one change from the starting team which advanced in the UEFA Europa League in midweek. Out from the 5-1 win over Glentoran was Callum Lang, who swapped places on the bench with Tony Watt.

In the face of constant Celtic pressure, the visitors absorbed much of it for large spells in the first half and had the better of the chances on the counter.

The first fell to the unlikely source of Liam Grimshaw. Thriving in a left wing-back role, the Englishman cut inside and sent a low shot bound for the bottom left corner from 25 yards.

Goalkeeper Barkas had to scramble to get across to keep it out, and Long was just short of capitalising on the rebound.

The Steelmen’s resilience would come on the counter attack. After a free-kick was cleared, Celtic roared up the park. With numbers over, Forrest found room facing up against Lamie on the edge of the box, before clipping a shot into the far left corner of the net.

Motherwell continued on undeterred. Watt then had a big chance to level in stoppage time after being picked out at the back post. But his effort went back across the face of goal and was nodded behind for a corner which came to nothing.

The visitors started the second half bright, getting in behind twice early on, but Celtic soon settled into their rhythm.

Chances were kept at a premium, with manager Robinson changing his shape to 4-4-2 with 20 minutes left to try and grab the equaliser.

But it would be Celtic who would get the second goal. A ball in from the left suddenly found Ajeti with too much room in the area, with the substitute powering home into the top left corner despite the last-gasp diving tackle from Grimshaw.

Celtic continued to come in waves. First, Klimala found himself one-on-one with Carson, but the goalkeeper made himself big and saved well with his feet.

Forrest then hit the bar with a dipping shot from outside the box, having cut inside off the left to fire in with his right boot.

Motherwell’s final chance fell to Grimshaw from 25 yards as the game wore to its conclusion. But his placed side-footer was straight at Barkas.

Celtic would make it three in stoppage time. Jullien found himself up the pitch to arrive at the back post and steer home the clincher.

Motherwell: Carson, O’Donnell, Gallagher, Mugabi, Lamie (White 69), Grimshaw, O’Hara, Campbell, Polworth, Watt (Lang 59), Long (Hylton 80).

Subs not used: Morrison, Maguire, Cornelius, Robinson, Seedorf, Hastie.

Harry Robinson is in the Northern Ireland Under 21 squad for their forthcoming qualifiers.

The forward is in line to face Malta and Denmark in qualification matches for the UEFA European Under 21 Championships.

Northern Ireland have drawn three and lost two from their opening games.

They face Malta away on September 4, before a home match against the unbeaten Denmark on September 8.

Motherwell return to league action on Sunday with a trip to face Celtic.

After success in the UEFA Europa League in midweek, the Steelmen head to face the champions in Glasgow. Kick-off is at 3pm.

Tale of the tape

Celtic have won the last five encounters between the two sides. The most recent was a 4-0 victory at Fir Park in February, which followed a 2-0 win at home last November.

The last positive result for Stephen Robinson’s side came in December 2018, with Danny Johnson netting in a 1-1 draw in ML1.

Form guide

Celtic exited the UEFA Champions League at the second qualifying round stage in midweek, losing at home to Hungarian side Ferencvaros.

Neil Lennon’s side have played three Premiership matches, winning at home to Hamilton, drawing at Kilmarnock and then emerging victorious 1-0 at Dundee United last weekend.

Viewing options

The match is not available to watch in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland. Celtic are not offering a pay-per-view option.

Fans outside of the UK and Ireland can watch through our international subscription option at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

“We wore them down and our quality shone through.”

Stephen Robinson on the 5-1 UEFA Europa League win over Glentoran.

A five-goal blitz in the second half from Motherwell eventually eased them into Monday’s draw for the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round.

Glentoran, after a good first half performance, were reduced to 10 men for most of the second and their resistance was eventually worn down by a ruthless Fir park side.

There was a strange backdrop to Motherwell’s 16th European tie at Fir Park, with the rain-sodden streets around the ground eerily quiet in the build up to this first round qualifier.

The Belfast side arrived in North Lanarkshire via a 1-0 win over HB Torshavn last week. The Northern Irishmen, with former ‘Well man Gael Bigirimana in midfield, were hoping to get one over fellow countryman Stephen Robinson.

Motherwell, minus David Turnbull who departed for Celtic just hours before the game, aimed to put their indifferent league form behind them.

Liam Polworth filled the vacancy created by Celtic’s latest acquisition and Liam Grimshaw was restored to right back to allow a flexible back five. Up front Christopher Long was given the nod to partner Callum Lang.

It was hoped that the pace of the home attack would provide a challenge for the Glentoran defence and it took the pair only seven minutes to produce the first threat. Polworth sent Lang though and his pass set up Long but he dragged his low shot across the goal and beyond the post.

Motherwell were controlled in possession but found it difficult to get behind a solid and uncompromising Glentoran defence. The visitors were also quick on the break and posed a few threats to the home goal.

Trevor Carson made his first comfortable save after 20 minutes when Marcus Kane latched onto Declan Gallagher’s headed clearance only to shoot straight at the ‘Well ‘keeper.

At the other end, Lang’s fine run along the goal line ended with Allan Campbell poking the ball just past the post.

On the half hour the Motherwell goal had a narrow escape which would have silenced the recording of ‘Well Bois booming out of the PA system. Bigirimana’s corner picked out Ruaidhri Donnelly at the front of the six yard box and his low header forced Carson into a brilliant block with his feet to keep his goal intact.

The ‘Well players responded to that scare and until half-time buzzed around Dale Coleing’s goal forcing Gibraltar’s national ‘keeper into a couple of saves.

The first arrived when Polworth turned inside the box before firing in a shot which the ‘keeper firmly held.

Then 10 minutes from the break Lang’s drive from 15 yards was palmed away by Coleing at full stretch.

A couple of other attempts in a packed six yard box were deflected over the ‘keeper’s bar as the Fir Park side strived to make the most of their slight advantage but it remained 0-0 at the break.

Although ‘Well restarted on the front foot, with Mark O’Hara firing a free kick into the defensive wall, the Fir Park side were given a one man advantage after 51 minutes. After picking up a yellow in the first for clattering into Ricki Lamie, Seanan McClean was shown a second after catching Stephen O’Donnell.

However, 10-man Glentoran produced the next two chances. Paul O’Neil firing the ball over from eight yards, before another attempt drifted past Carson’s right hand post.

The Belfast side had raised their spirits but were left deflated when ‘Well found the opener after 58 minutes.

Lang worked a neat one-two with O’Donnell at the corner of the box before taking the return ball in his stride to deftly touch it beyond the keeper and into the corner of the goal.

Sherwin was already stripped to come on and he replaced Grimshaw and provide an extra outlet on the left.

Long’s burst down the right and cross for the inrushing Polworth was deflected narrowly behind as the home side stepped up the pressure on Glens’ goal.

With 20 minutes remaining, Tony Watt, a player with genuine European experience, replaced Lang and immediately won a couple of corners. From the second of those Polworth fed the ball back to O’Donnell, who took a look up before striking a superb drive from 35 yards which flew past Coleing.

As the extra man started to take its toll on the visitors Motherwell made their advantage count in the final 15 minutes.

The tireless running Long was almost rewarded but after the ‘keeper parried his powerful angled drive, Polworth nodded the ball into the empty net.

The script was written for Watt’s return to European football and after 77 minutes the former Celtic striker made it 4-0 rolling the ball over the line after Campbell’s shot was blocked.

A drive from O’Hara screamed narrowly over before Lamie’s measured lob bounced off the bar.

Motherwell and Long were not to be denied and three minutes from time the striker’s efforts were rewarded nipping in to beat the ‘keeper and make it 5-0.

Similarly, Glentoran found some consolation for their hard graft when Robbie McDaid slammed a penalty past Carson to round off a second half goal glut.

Motherwell: Carson, Grimshaw (Seedorf), Gallagher, Mugabi, Lamie, O’Donnell (Robinson), O’Hara, Campbell, Polworth, Long, Lang (Watt).

It is with mixed emotions that we have agreed to sell David Turnbull to Celtic FC. David leaves us for a fee nearly double our previous record transfer.

David is the latest in a long line of players who have developed with us. Marvin Johnson, Ben Heneghan, Louis Moult, Cédric Kipré and James Scott are recent success stories in what we set out to achieve. We provide talented players with a platform to showcase and enhance their abilities.

Our continued success in that area is huge testament to our manager Stephen Robinson, his coaching staff, our academy staff and our scouting and recruitment department.

In this particular case, significant tribute must also be paid to David Henderson, our head physiotherapist, for his outstanding dedication to David’s physical and mental rehabilitation over the last 12 months.

As chairman, I am delighted with this clear vindication of our strategy. For the health and prosperity of our fan-owned club, we must continue on this path.

As a fan, I also feel the loss of such talented individuals who contribute to our success on the pitch. Everyone at the club does, particularly our manager. Stephen has performed phenomenally across his almost four years in charge.

The money we receive for David will allow us in part to build up the strategic reserve, which helps secure and sustain us through such difficult and uncertain times. But this is also an opportunity to invest in the infrastructure, for example our training ground, academy and other facilities, with a view to providing an even-better environment for player development.

We wish David every success for the future. He is a local boy who has supported this club all of his life and has given us many memorable moments on the pitch. His agreement to extend his contract is a testament to his integrity and in doing so he secured the club’s interests as well as his own.

As I’ve said above, as a fan, I regret to see him leave Fir Park. But the club can take pride knowing we have played a part in helping develop this exceptionally talented footballer and young man, whose legacy will endure for many years.

Jim McMahon
Chairman

David Turnbull has completed a move to Celtic from Motherwell for a club-record fee.

The youth academy graduate leaves after 12 years at Fir Park, having joined our ranks as a nine-year-old in 2008.

He has since gone on to make 41 appearances for the club, scoring 16 goals.

While the fee can not be disclosed due to a confidentiality clause in the transfer agreement, it vastly exceeds the amount the club received for its previous record sale of Phil O’Donnell, also to Celtic, of £1.75m.

“I want to thank everyone at Motherwell, the staff, players and the fans, for everything they’ve done for me so far in my career,” said the player.

“Particularly David Henderson, who has helped me so much over the last year. I owe him so much.

“I am a Motherwell fan, so I leave with a heavy heart. But I have made memories and friends for life at a club I’ve been involved with all my life.”

Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson added: “David is a wonderful player who will go on to big things in his career.

“The staff are all delighted to have played a part in his development throughout his career to date.

“From a football perspective, it is obviously sore to lose a player of his quality. But that is the model at Motherwell. We develop players to go on to a higher level and he is another success story in that regard.

Everyone at Motherwell FC thanks David for his efforts during his long spell at the club, and wish him well for his future career.