[tab:Match report]
Andy Ross at Fir Park
Substitute Tony Watt came off the bench to inspire Celtic to a 3-0 victory over Motherwell at Fir Park.
The 18-year-old netted a quick-fire double midway through the second half before Cha Du-Ri completed a miserable afternoon for the Steelmen with seven minutes remaining.
After matching their opponents for the majority of the opening hour, Stuart McCall’s men will have been disappointed at their second half collapse.
McCall made three changes to the side that drew with Hibs two weeks before, while Neil Lennon made six switches to his starting eleven following last weekend’s disappointing 2-1 defeat to Hearts
Celtic showed their attacking threat in the opening minute when Kris Commons flashed an effort wide of Darren Randolph’s right-hand post. The visitors continued their attacking threat as Cha created an opportunity for Paweł Brożek a minute later as Motherwell struggled to gain a foothold in the match.
After surviving a difficult opening Motherwell had a shout for a penalty when Tim Clancy appeared to be pushed over inside the area by Thomas Rogne. Unfortunately for the Fir Parkers, Stevie O’Reilly wasn’t interested and play raged on.
Chris Humphrey forced Łukasz Załuska into his first save of the encounter he burst away from Emilio Izaguirre and fired a low shot which the keeper did well to parry clear.
Humphrey tested the Celtic keeper again on the half-hour mark with a nice low shot before Celtic created a glorious opportunity to take the lead.
Victor Wanyama slipped the ball through to Brożek, who should have hit the target from 10-yards out but fluffed the chance and the score remained level.
Celtic were forced into an early change when KI Sung-Yueng limped off to be replaced by Paddy McCourt but it didn’t knock the visitors off their stride as Commons blasted an effort straight at Randolph three minutes before the break. The Scotland international came even closer two minutes later when his shot drifted just wide after good build up play by Wanyama.
Motherwell, who had been reasonably comfortable during the opening exchanged despite Celtic pressure, were under the cosh by the break and Brożek was denied by an excellent stop by the feet of Randolph as the visitors finished the first-half on the ascendency.
The Steelmen made a bright start to the second half and Nicky Law had two efforts on goal in the opening five minutes.
The former Rotherham man firstly fired just wide of the post and then saw his effort from the edge of the box comfortably gathered by Załuska.
Celtic’s response came via full-back Cha but he was caught in two minds after being sent in on goal following a superb through-ball from McCourt on 57 minutes and the chance was gone.
The Celtic fans were becoming increasingly frustrated at their sides’ lack of a killer touch and Neil Lennon made his second change of the match when Watt replaced Brozek.
It was a substitution that was to make a huge difference in the outcome of the match as within two minutes of his introduction he lashed home from Wanyama’s pin-point delivery.
Things got even better for the former Airdrie man when he collected Ledley’s pass and fired an unstoppable strike beyond Randolph to effectively kill the game as a contest.
It was cruel on Motherwell who had been more than a match for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League champions but the goals clearly knocked the stuffing out of the players who had worked so hard for the opening hour.
Jamie Murphy was introduced for Stuart Carswell as the Steelmen looked to find a way back into the match and to their credit they continued to look for a way back into the match.
Much to the frustration of the home support however, chances remained to be hard to come by as cross after cross were cleared by the first Celtic defender.
Randolph tipped Commons’ effort over the bar before Celtic added to Motherwell’s misery. Cha bulleted home a close range header with seven minutes remaining after an excellent delivery from McCourt.
The remainder of the game made for painful viewing for the home supporters who remained inside the ground, as Celtic knocked the ball about comfortably. It was a second half to forget for Motherwell and McCall must now focus on preparing his side for next Saturday’s crunch showdown with St Johnstone.
[tab:As it happened]
Alastair Reilly at Fir Park
FULL-TIME: Motherwell 0 – 3 Celtic
90mins: 2 minutes added on.
82mins: GOAL 0-3 Cha kills the game with a point blank header.
76mins: Celtic SUB: Lustig on for Commons.
76mins: Higdon headers off the bar but is already adjudged to have fouled his marker.
75mins: Neat link-up play from Higdon and Ojamaa ends with the Estonian volleying wide.
70mins: Those goals have knocked the stuffing out of us. Randolph denying Commons with a great stop there.
67mins: Motherwell SUB: Murphy on for Carswell
65mins: GOAL! Watt makes it 0-2
62mins: GOAL! 0-1 Celtic sub Tony Watt opens the scoring.
60mins: Motherwell SUB: It’s Ojamaa time as he comes on for Omar Daley
59mins: Celtic SUB: Watt comes on for Brozek.
55mins: Humphrey currently receiving treatment after being clattered by Mulgrew. No free-kick awarded.
53mins: Humphrey has the crowd out their seats with a jinking run into the box. Unfortunately the ball just wouldn’t settle for a strike.
50mins: Today’s match attendance: 8760
48mins: Some promising early pressure from ‘Well however there is no end product as of yet!
45mins: Law and Carswell kick-off the second half.
HALF-TIME: Motherwell 0 – 0 Celtic
44mins: Late onslaught from Celtic, only denied by the feet of Randolph. A heart stopping moment there!
42mins: 25 yard Zidane-esque volley from Commons thankfully is straight at Randolph. Half-time approaching.
41mins: Ledley wins a corner after a jinking run and shot. Corner comes to nothing.
39mins: Celtic SUB: McCourt on for the injured Ki.
38mins: And up the other end, Zaluska narrowly wins a race to the ball against Humphrey and slides it out for a throw-in.
37mins; Higdon penalised for a challenge on Mulgrew. Commons driven free-kick is deflected into Randolph’s arms.
34mins: Brozek finds himself clean through….thankfully he scuffs his finish and we all breathe a sigh of relief.
31mins: Play stopped as Randolph is treated for a head knock after going down bravely at Hooper’s feet.
29mins: Motherwell really coming into this encounter. Humphrey coming close yet again but denied by Zaluska’s low diving save.
23mins: Great save from Zaluska as Higdon flicks the ball on to Humphrey and his shot is sailing in until the stopper gets a hand to it!
17mins: Wanyama goes for goal from 30 yards….goes harmlessly past Randolph’s post.
16mins: Cheeky effort from Jennings. The Scouser shaped for a cross but instead bent a shot which sailed just over the bar.
15mins: A chance for ‘Well as Humphrey bursts clear of the Celtic defence but there was no support and his cross was deflected wide.
12mins: First corner of the game for ‘Well…… Claims of a Penalty on Tim Clancy waved away!
10mins: Tight one as Humphrey arcs his run to spring the offside trap but the Jamaican is flagged off.
9mins: Corner for Celtic…..Finally scrambled clear by Higdon.
7mins: Celtic with the bulk of the possession although the ship has steadied with the Steelmen starting to string some passes together.
2mins: Celtic go close again, this time Brozek goes close with a header. ‘Well under pressure.
1min: Chance for Celtic as Commons drills a left footed shot from 25 yards just past the ‘Well post.
1min: And it’s game on. ‘Mon the ‘Well!
[tab:Reaction]
Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:
“I felt before the game we had a real chance of securing a point at the very least. That was still the case at half-time; it had been an open game. They had a few chances, we had a few chances and their keeper made a few good blocks from Chris Humphrey.
“It was much the same in the second until they brought on the sub in young Watt and he has changed the game. We defend poorly, let the cross come in and he finishes it at the back stick and that was the crucial goal.
Celtic assistant manager Johan Mjallby:
“It’s a sensational debut for Tony. The main thing for Tony is to keep his feet on the ground and work hard in training. He’ll have a great future.
“We’ve had our eye on him for some time. He’s a very powerful boy, a strong runner and he likes to get into the box.
“We’re always going to create a lot of chances and we need strikers who are hungry for goals.
“There are a few departments where he needs to improve but he’s only 18 and he’s definitely in our plans for next season.”
[tab:Man-of-the-match]
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