A second half onslaught from Celtic saw Motherwell crash to their heaviest defeat of the season.
However, like the first encounter in August the scoreline didn’t reflect fairly on ‘Well’s contribution to an exciting game.
The Fir Park men were made to pay for Celtic’s clinical finishing in front of goal as a double from Odsonne Edouard at either end of the 90 minutes, and a second half double from Leigh Griffiths and Callum McGregor fully punished the home side.
Stephen Robinson will be envious of Celtic’s killer instinct as his side failed to convert the bulk of chances they created especially in the first half.
In the end, though, despite a vastly improved performance from the game at Livingston, and a lot of the ball in and around the visitor’s penalty area, ‘Well for the third consecutive league game drew a blank in front of goal.
After Saturday’s poor showing at Livingston, Stephen Robinson could have made any number of changes to his starting team.
However, the ‘Well boss made only two – with Liam Grimshaw swapping places with Richard Tait and Rolando Aarons making his debut on the right side of Christopher Long.
The Newcastle United loanee appeared confident in the early stages and after six minutes he chested down Liam Polworth’s long pass before driving the ball low, forcing Fraser Forster to make a comfortable save.
A minute later, Aarons was again involved at the edge of the Celtic box, setting up for Long for a shot at goal. When the ball was deflected it fell for Jermaine Hylton 12 yards from goal but he pulled his drive wide of target.
It was a positive start for the home side but in their first threat on the home goal two minutes later the Parkhead side were ruthless.
Callum McGregor was given too much freedom to advance towards the Fir Park box before he played the ball to Edouard. After his first attempt was blocked the French striker calmly steered his second effort beyond Mark Gillespie to put the league leaders ahead.
Motherwell immediately responded as Long nipped inside Kristoffer Ajer before slipping the ball back to Allan Campbell but from 15 yards he screwed his shot across Fraser’s goal and beyond the ‘keeper’s right hand post.
The Steelmen looked undaunted by the loss of the early goal and confident in possession they pushed forward in numbers.
Midway through the half Polworth carried the ball deep into the Celtic half but with options on either side the midfielder elected to shoot from 25 yards only to watch his effort drift well wide of goal.
The best chance came ‘Well’s way in 28th minute. Jake Carroll’s incisive pass sent Long scurrying to the byeline. His cut back had Campbell and Aarons waiting at the edge of the six yard area but the latter’s high boot ended the goal threat.
Then just beyond the half hour mark the home side carved out another opening. Good build up on the left ended with ball at Hylton’s feet and his quick turn and low drive forced Forster to dive low to his right to smother the shot.
Two minutes from the interval only Forster’s superb reactions denied ‘Well an equaliser their first half performance merited. Hylton’s tricky footwork in the box ended with the ball being deflected to the unmarked Aarons and he looked to have powered his angle drive into the net until the Celtic ‘keeper’s arm deflected the ball over the bar.
Motherwell were still in a positive frame of mind at the start of the second half – even leaving Hylton and Aarons upfield as they defended a Celtic free kick.
Five minutes after the restart, though, the Steelmen fell two behind to another simple goal.
McGregor’s long run was matched by Liam Donnelly but from the byeline the Celtic midfielder found space to pick out the unmarked Griffiths. Eight yards from the middle of the goal the Scotland striker took a touch before calmly poking the ball into the corner of the net to make it 2-0.
After an impressive but tiring 57 minutes Aarons made way for Sherwin Seedorf. And within a minute Hylton had set him up for this first touch but his trundler from 18 yards was easily smothered by Forster.
At the other end Celtic came closer to a third goal when Edouard’s cross picked out Griffith’s but his header rebounded from the face of the crossbar.
Gillespie was then asked to make his first real saves of the game. Firstly, firmly holding onto Greg Taylor’s powerful drive then bravely diving at Edouard’s feet to dispossess the striker.
With 20 minutes remaining and desperately needing a goal to set up a stirring finish Robinson sent on attack minded Ross MacIver and Christy Manzinga.
But before they could make any impact Neil Lennon’s men had fired in a third goal to wrap up the points.
James Forrest made ground on the right before finding McGregor just inside the box and his stunning half volley high into the net gave Gillespie no chance.
Ten minutes from time Edouard brilliantly curled a free kick around the defensive wall and past a helpless Gillespie to make it 4-0.
