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Motherwell left themselves with too much to do as a second-half comeback came up short in a 2-1 loss at Celtic.

Goals from Stephen Welsh and Odsonne Edouard put Celtic in the driving seat. But Allan Campbell’s second-half lob over Scott Bain brought ‘Well back to life, albeit just short of a comeback.

Motherwell went with an unchanged starting line-up from the side which defeated Dundee United 2-1 in midweek.

But the best-laid plans suffered a blow with just two minutes on the clock. Turnbull’s pinpoint corner from the right found Welsh in mid-air, with the young defender powering his header into the net.

Goalkeeper Kelly had to keep a number of shots at bay as the hosts laid siege, controlling possession in the opening spells.

The Steelmen did find themselves up the break on the counter early on. Cole’s burst down the left led to a cross being gathered by Bain, and the ‘keeper had to be alert again to stop Mugabi’s flicked header from Maguire’s deep free-kick.

Celtic retained the bulk of the ball for the majority of the first period, save for a Long free-kick in stoppage time which went into the hands of the ‘keeper, seeing the two teams would go in at the break with the hosts a goal to the good.

The hosts, however, would start quick out the block in the second.

With six minutes played, Edouard received the ball on the edge of the area. Twisting and turning to make space, he unleashed an unstoppable shot into the bottom-left corner of the net to make it 2-0.

Cole got in behind and saw his close-range shot blocked by Bain, with Mugabi heading wide from the resulting corner, before ‘Well got a foot back in the match.

Intricate build-up play down the right fed Campbell into the middle. Moving the ball onto his right boot, his shot from the edge of the box looped up and lobbed Bain to nestle in the net.

Motherwell rallied and thought they’d grabbed the equaliser with 15 to go. Long’s fizzer across goal just eluded Cole, and the resulting ball back across was blocked within inches of the line.

But, ultimately, the Steelmen would leave Glasgow empty-handed despite their fightback. In the last second, Smith saw his header hooked off the line as Motherwell couldn’t believe their misfortune.

A trip to Celtic lies in wait on Saturday for Motherwell.

Here’s the key topics going into the match.

Seeking a win to remember

Motherwell’s last win in the east end of Glasgow came in December 2015, when a Louis Moult double secured a comeback 2-1 win.

Since then, Celtic have won every home match against the Steelmen.

Unwanted home form

Unusually, Celtic have suffered a dip in home form of late.

In the last five Premiership matches, they have won two, drawn two and lost one, dropping seven points in the process.

Hibs and Livingston both earned draws in Glasgow, while St Mirren left with all three points in Celtic’s last home fixture.

Cole on song

Devante Cole scores goals. The Englishman has now netted four in his last five appearances, scoring against St Mirren, Rangers, Ross County and Dundee United.

The 25-year-old has now given himself the platform to try and eclipse his most prolific season of his career – when he netted 12 for Fleetwood Town in 2017/18.

“Any team has a fighting chance going into a game. Our performances must give us confidence.”

The Motherwell manager looks ahead to the trip to take on the reigning champions at Celtic Park.

Motherwell’s trip to face Celtic on Saturday is only available to watch outside of the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

If you’re in the UK or Republic of Ireland, the game is unfortunately not available as Celtic do not offer a pay-per-view option.

International-based supporters can watch live via their usual subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

Our Premiership match with Kilmarnock will now kick off at 6pm.

The game at Rugby Park will be played on Wednesday, 10 February 2021.

The match was originally due to kick off at 7.45pm.

Information on how to watch the fixture will be made available shortly.

Motherwell head to Glasgow to take on Celtic next.

Consecutive victories send Graham Alexander’s men west with raised spirits, to take on the league champions.

Kick-off at Celtic Park on Saturday is at 3pm.

Watch live

If you’re in the UK or Republic of Ireland, the game is unfortunately not available to watch, as Celtic do not offer a pay-per-view option.

International-based supporters can watch via their usual subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

Tale of the tape

Celtic have won the last eight matches against the Steelmen on home turf.

Motherwell’s last win in the east end of Glasgow came in December 2015, when a Louis Moult double secured a comeback 2-1 win.

Form guide

Motherwell made it back-to-back wins with victory over Dundee United in midweek.

That 2-1 win followed up from success by the same scoreline away to Ross County seven days previous.

Celtic’s 4-0 win at Kilmarnock in midweek was their fifth win in 10 matches, having also drawn three and lost two.

“The players were exceptional. We stood up to the test and got the three points.”

The manager speaks as Motherwell record back-to-back wins with victory at home to Dundee United.

After a keenly-contested 90 minutes, Motherwell secured their first home win since October with a 2-1 win over Dundee United.

A terrific first half saw a quick double from Devante Cole and Christopher Long to put ‘Well in the driving seat.

But just like the game at Tannadice, the Steelmen passed up a host of chances and nearly paid the penalty as Ryan Edwards’ goal ten minutes from time once again gave United the chance of grabbing a late equaliser.

Although Graham Alexander boosted his squad with five signings in the last few days of the transfer window, the ‘Well boss largely stood by the side which earned three points at Dingwall.

In the absence of skipper Declan Gallagher, Ricki Lamie came in to partner Bevis Mugabi at the heart of the home defence.

For the opening 15 minutes the ‘Well defence was kept in in its own half as the Tannadice played a high press in search of the opener.

However, the game turned Motherwell’s way inside an intense 10 minute spell.

It started after 17 minutes when Barry Maguire’s free kick found Mugabi and his powerful header was searing towards the net until the goalkeeper’s left hand turned the ball over the bar.

Tony Watt was next to try his luck. Allan Campbell’s floated ball to the back post and found Watt unmarked but his raised boot failed to make contact when it looked easier to nod the ball into the net.

Motherwell sensed a goal coming and it duly arrived three minutes later. Maguire’s inswinging corner again caused panic in the United six yard box and this time Cole punished them, forcing the ball over the line from a couple of yards for his fourth goal in the last five games.

With the Tannadice defenders rocking ‘Well pushed for a second and when it arrived in the 28th minute it was a cracker.

Long worked a quick exchange with Cole and when he collected the ball to the left of the penalty box he hammered a low drivel past Siegrist and into the ‘keeper’s left hand corner.

As the Fir Park men looked to kill the game Cole hooked the ball over the bar before Long fired another impressive attempt into the side netting.

Having steadied themselves in the lead up to the interval, United started the second on the front foot.

And within seven minutes of the restart the Tannadice men made two appeals for penalties when Marc McNulty twice tumbled in the box.

In a quick break to the other end, though, Siegrist kept the visitors’ hopes alive, diving low to his left to palm away Watt’s angled shot.

As the Taysiders pushed for a goal to give them a lifeline, Cole’s strength to hold up the ball for his striking partners always threated a third goal.

However, the on-loan Wigan striker should have killed the contest after 66 minutes. Watt carried the ball down the right before slipping the ball in behind the United defenders. With only Siegrist to beat, Cole rattled the ball off the advancing ‘keeper when he might have grabbed his second of the evening.

With 72 minutes on the clock, Harry Smith replaced Long as the ‘Well boss aimed to put the game beyond United’s reach.

Within a couple of minutes of coming on Stephen O’Donnell’s wonderful cross field ball picked out Smith but as tired to get his shot away he slipped inside the box under pressure from his near namesake Liam Smith.

Liam Kelly finally produced his first save of the game after 79 minutes, at full length to his left to push a terrific drive from Callum Butcher round his post. From the resultant corner United pulled a goal back when Edwards’ header found its way past Kelly to set up a tense final ten minutes.

It was then ‘Well’s turn to claim for a penalty when substitute Nathan McGinley took a boot to the head as he set himself up to steer the ball towards goal. With blood streaming from the defender’s nose he was led to the dressing room for further treatment.

As Alexander waited to replace him with Sam Foley, Kelly brought of another impressive save to deny Adrian Sporle an equaliser.

Then in added on time, with United fully committed for the equaliser ‘Well had one final chance to find that elusive third goal.

O’Donnell and Campbell engineered the break down the right and when the latter released Harry Smith, the striker forced another fine save from the United ‘keeper.

Despite an anxious final five minutes, ‘Well held strong for a deserved win and kick-off a hectic February, where they face an incredible seven games which could define their season, on a high note.

Motherwell play host to Dundee United in the Premiership on Wednesday night.

Here are the storylines going into the game. Kick-off at Fir Park is at 6pm.

Ground to make up

Six points separate the two teams going into the fixture, with United having played two more matches.

A win for the Steelmen would lift them within three points of the Terrors in seventh spot, with those two games to make up later in February.

Close encounters

The two games between the two sides this season have been close affairs.

United were 1-0 winners on their first trip to Fir Park at the start of the campaign.

Motherwell looked like then claiming a similar 1-0 victory at Tannadice on Boxing Day, only to be denied by a late, late equaliser in a 1-1 draw.

Form guide

Neither side have enjoyed particularly fine form in recent months.

Motherwell ended a run of 13 games without a win when they ran out 2-1 comeback victors at Ross County last midweek.

United haven’t won since a 2-0 victory over Kilmarnock on 23 December, racking up four draws and three defeats since.

You can watch Motherwell v Dundee United on Wednesday, wherever you are in the world.

If you’re in the UK or Republic of Ireland, a live stream of the game will be available to buy on a pay-per-view basis for £12.

Season ticket holders can watch the game for free, as usual, at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

International-based supporters can watch via their usual subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

Kick-off at Fir Park is at 6pm.