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An Odsonne Edouard strike and an own goal from Richard Tait sees the league leaders take all three points in the Ladbrokes Premiership match.

“We are disappointed with the result. But we’ve raised our standards and it’s hard to be critical.”

Stephen Robinson speaks as Motherwell perform well but lose 2-0 at Celtic.

A goal in each half, laced with a bit of fortune, eased Celtic to a win over a Motherwell side which will take plaudits from their performance in Glasgow.

However, despite another decent showing against one of the big two, the Fir Park side again left the city with nothing to show for its efforts and positive approach to the fixture.

The Steelmen’s confident start to the season was apparent in the large periods of possession they enjoyed.

But on the two occasions that they looked to make an impact they lost goals. Firstly, to an Odsonne Edouard strike, midway through the first half, and then an own goal from Richard Tait nine minutes after the break, as ‘Well made a positive start to the second half.

Stephen Robinson made several changes in personnel and his starting formation for the visit to Celtic Park. Peter Hartley’s illness allowed Bevis Mugabi to start alongside Declan Gallagher, with Richard Tait on his left to form a central three in a flexible back five.

With Liam Donnelly suspended, Barry Maguire was handed the role in the centre of midfield.

Motherwell were hoping that Celtic’s colossal performance and result in Rome on Thursday would have an adverse effect on the Parkhead side. However, Neil Lennon’s men showed no signs of fatigue and were on the front foot from the first whistle.

Mark Gillespie made his first save after six minutes, throwing himself low to his left to push Odsonne Edouard’s low curling shot round his post.

Although a series of crosses whizzed across the ‘Well goal, the visitors were keen to get forward and support Devante Cole and Christopher Long.

After 10 minutes, Long had the first attempt at Fraser Forster’s goal, driving the ball a couple of metres wide of the target from 30 yards.

Three minutes later, only a fabulous tackle from Gallagher prevented Elyounoussi from opening the scoring after Maguire lost possession and the ‘Well defence was spliced wide open.

The Fir Park men then enjoyed a period of possession around the Celtic box. Liam Polworth’s corner was cleared and when the ‘Well midfielder regained possession on the left of the box, he released Cole but his half-hit effort was easily taken by Forster.

Just when Motherwell started to look comfortable on the ball they found themselves a goal down after 19 minutes.

Gallagher did well to track James Forrest’s run across the box. But the Fir Park defender was unlucky that his block sent the ball into the path of Edouard, who from 12 yards lashed the ball high past a helpless Gillespie.

Celtic seemed content with the lead and as Motherwell pushed for a quick equaliser they came within a few feet of drawing level in the 25th minute.

From wide on the left, Jake Carroll delivered a low tempting ball across the six-yard box with Long sliding in and failing to make contact, while Campbell fared no better as the ball sailed across the goal begging a touch.

Celtic’s ability to break with pace attempted to expose the Steelmen’s rearguard but Gillespie was generally well protected by his central defenders, as the Parkhead fired a few openings high over the ‘keeper’s crossbar.

Four minutes from the break, Tait delayed his free kick until Gallagher raced to the home box. And it almost paid off as the ex-Livi man’s knock down forced Forster to push the ball away from his goal, with Carroll unable to get onto to the loose ball.

Just before the break Hayes looked as if he would cross the ball, but instead pinged a shot at goal which Gillespie beat away, for only his second save of the game.

Only a goal behind, the ‘Well players still looked undaunted as the second half began. Within a couple of minutes, Gallagher’s long throw into a packed Celtic box was only partially cleared, but from 20 yards Polworth slashed his shot wide of goal.

Play continued around the home box as Carroll’s long throw failed to reach Gallagher before Polworth’s free kick, from a good position, harmlessly floated into Forster’s hands.

However, once again as Motherwell thought they might find a way back into the game, they conceded a killer second goal.

Ironically, Tait found the touch that eluded Long in the first half. Unfortunately, the full back slid into the six-yard box to connect with Jonny Hayes’ low cross, he stabbed the ball past Gillespie and into his own net.

Motherwell continued to give the Celtic defence some concern and Carroll’s low ball forced Christopher Julien, under pressure from tireless running Cole, to sweep the ball behind his own goal.

Despite the two goal lead, the Parkhead fans were unhappy with amount of possession given to the visitors.

And with around 25 minutes remaining, and Stephen Robinson suspecting that a Motherwell goal might raise the anxiety in the stands, ‘Well changed to a more attack-minded formation bringing on wide men Jermaine Hylton and Sherwin Seedorf.

It was Celtic substitute Ryan Christie, though, who forced a rare save from Gillespie, the keeper going to ground to smother a low drive. Gillespie made one more stop on a relatively quiet afternoon at Celtic Park, sticking out his left boot to force Olivier Ntcham’s angled drive away from his goal.

The final change for ‘Well came after 79 minutes when James Scott replaced Cole in a final effort to break down the Parkhead defence.

With Celtic perhaps jaded after their midweek efforts and Motherwell unable to grab a goal and lift the tempo of the game, the match drifted towards the final whistle.

There’s live video and audio available from Celtic v Motherwell on Sunday.

We’ve a live stream of the match available to viewers outside of the UK and Ireland for just £12 a month. Kick off is at 3pm GMT.

To subscribe and get all Motherwell home matches – and the majority of away games – head to tv.motherwellfc.co.uk now and sign up.

All subscribers must sign up to the service before 2pm on Sunday, due to the expected high volume of viewers.

If you’re in the UK or Ireland and can’t make it, don’t worry. We’ve also got live audio commentary of the match for just £5.99 a month.

Head to tv.motherwellfc.co.uk to sign up. Just choose the UK/Ireland commentary option.

2019/20 Motherwell streaming service matches

Celtic lie in wait on Sunday, as Motherwell travel to the east end of Glasgow on Ladbrokes Premiership business.

The champions are in formidable form, arriving at the match off of a huge victory away to Lazio in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night.

The story so far

Having won the last nine domestic trophies, Neil Lennon’s side booked their place for a shot at a 10th with a win over Hibernian in the Betfred Cup semi-final last weekend.

Against Motherwell, they fell behind early at Fir Park earlier in the season, before coming back to win 5-2.

Form guide

Celtic have won 21 out of the 26 matches they have played in all competitions so far this season.

Of the other five, they’ve drawn three – against Hibernian, CFR Cluj and Rennes all away from home – while losing at Livingston and at home to CFR Cluj in UEFA Champions League qualifying.

Three to watch

Mohamed Elyounoussi

Mohamed Elyounoussi’s spectacular recent performances have led to Celtic fans campaigning to make the Norwegian international’s stay at the club a permanent one.

The 25-year-old has been in superb form in recent weeks. Last weekend he notched a brace in the 5-2 Betfred Cup semi-final victory over Hibernian, starting off November on the same note as he ended the previous month in which he netted four times in four league matches.

A quite brilliant assist for James Forrest’s equaliser against Lazio was an excellent demonstration of Elyounoussi’s ability to create chances as well as putting them away and he is sure to pose a real threat to the ‘Well defence on Sunday.

Callum McGregor

Victory for Celtic over Lazio capped a memorable few days for Callum McGregor, who only 48 hours earlier had put pen to paper on a new five-year deal with the champions.

His new contract Celtic Park is just reward for the midfielder who over the years has established himself as an integral figure in the green and white hoops. In the absence of Scott Brown, it is McGregor who wears the captains armband, and manager Neil Lennon has said that he believes he will take over from Brown in the role in the future.

McGregor graduated from the Celtic youth academy and has now been with the club for 18 years. Since breaking into the first-team squad, he has won five league titles, three Scottish Cups and three League Cups.

Odsonne Edouard

After failing to score in his last three appearances, Odsonne Edouard will be desperate to end his wait for a goal when the Steelmen visit the east end of Glasgow.

The French striker has already beaten Mark Gillespie once this season, when he came off the bench to score the fourth goal in Celtic’s 5-2 success at Fir Park back in August.

Since that game Edouard has added a further six Scottish Premiership goals and sits second behind Jermaine Defoe in the top scorer chart.

It’s not just in domestic action that the 21-year-old is thriving either. Last month he scored a hat-trick for France U21s as they defeated Slovakia 5-3 – taking his goal tally to nine in four appearances.

Get your tickets in advance

Tickets are available online now until Friday for collection from the Fir Park ticket office, or from the club shop on Saturday. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

Tickets can also be purchased at the ticket office. We’re open until 4pm on Friday. The club shop will sell tickets from 10am to 12pm on Saturday. There will be no sales after this time.

The cheaper price is for restricted view tickets. These will not be available until our full view tickets are sold out.

Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Andy Sim on 07428 225254 or email tickets@mfcdsa.com.

Can’t make it? Watch or listen live

If you’re outside the UK/Ireland, you can watch Celtic v Motherwell and the majority of our Ladbrokes Premiership games this season on our live streaming service.

Priced at £12 a month, just head to tv.motherwellfc.co.uk to subscribe.

Wherever you are, there’s also live audio commentary available on our streaming service for £5.99 a month.

Liam Grimshaw is your Tullibardine Motherwell FC player of the month for October.

The right back has been as consistent as ever for Stephen Robinson’s side, playing a key part throughout the month.

Grimshaw was up against Peter Hartley, Devante Cole and Christopher Long for the fans to decide.

There’s still time to get your tickets for Sunday’s trip to take on Celtic.

Tickets are available from the club shop at Fir Park on Saturday between 10am and 12pm.

Tickets must be purchased in advance. There will be no sales on the day of the match.

The cheaper price is for restricted view tickets. These will not be available until our full view tickets are sold out.

Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Andy Sim on 07428 225254 or email tickets@mfcdsa.com.

Can’t make it? Watch or listen live

If you’re outside the UK/Ireland, you can watch Celtic v Motherwell and the majority of our Ladbrokes Premiership games this season on our live streaming service.

Priced at £12 a month, just head to tv.motherwellfc.co.uk to subscribe.

Wherever you are, there’s also live audio commentary available on our streaming service for £5.99 a month.

Stephen Robinson spoke of the task in hand against Celtic this weekend, as well as the form of Declan Gallagher and developing players on Thursday.

Here’s what he had to say to the broadcast media ahead of the match.

On Declan Gallagher’s Scotland call-up

“Delighted with him. He’s been a revelation since he came in. We went to watch Livingston play maybe two years ago and we earmarked him then. We constantly monitored him and he’s grown as a player and as a person.

“I think his recognition for Scotland’s been thoroughly deserved and hopefully it continues.

“He’s full of fun. He’s a big character in the dressing room. The boys love him. Win, lose or draw he is the same. He keeps the dressing room alive on the pitch, we’ve got him to drive himself.

“His training standards were something that we tried to get up when he first came in and now he is setting standards for other people, as opposed to us trying to set them for him.”

On developing players

“I have a pretty good relationship with all the players. You can only start 11 of them.

“It’s important that the boys that aren’t playing you try and keep on board as well, as frustrated as they are, which is is understandable.

“But I try to be honest with people. We try and treat them well and in the end of the day if I’m linked with something, it’s down to the players.

“And if the players are linked with something, or representing their country, it’s because of Motherwell Football Club.

“We appreciate each other. I think there’s a good bond and relationship between all the staff and all the players.”

On the task in facing Celtic

“[The performance at Ibrox] certainly gave the players confidence. Sometimes I wish they believed in themselves as much as I believed in them.

“The hard bit is convincing people. You know that you can go to these places, put on a performance and get results.

“They’ve started to believe in our league position and in our style of play, where we’ve been attractive on the eye, played a lot of good football, scored a lot of goals and there’s no reason why we can’t [go there and get a result].

“Of course the realism is that Celtic on their day are a very, very good side. As are Rangers. So we have to be at the top of our game but giving them that belief.

“I believe after the Rangers game, they believe in what we did. They believe in each other.

“So why not? If you go with a negative mindset, you might as well beat before you start.”

Trevor Carson and Liam Donnelly are again in the Northern Ireland squad for their final games of 2019.

Michael O’Neill’s side are in UEFA EURO 2020 qualifying action against Netherlands and Germany.

They take on the Dutch in Belfast on 16 November, before travelling to take on the Germans three days later in Frankfurt.

Declan Gallagher is in the Scotland squad for the forthcoming matches with Cyprus and Kazakhstan.

The Motherwell defender, a standout performer for the Steelmen this campaign, was a call-up to Steve Clarke’s squad for their last double header with Russia and San Marino.

The 28-year-old didn’t win his first cap on that occasion, but that chance could now come in the coming games.

Scotland travel to take on Cyprus on Saturday, 16 November, before taking on Kazakhstan at Hampden Park on Tuesday, 19 November.