2016-04-09: Motherwell 1-2 Celtic, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 20152016 | 2015-16 Pictures

Trivia

  • Aberdeen lose the night before to Hearts, and so really the league race is over.
  • Last game before the split
  • Bemused spectators at the end of the match, as M'well manager (and ex-Celt) Mark McGhee snubbed shaking hands with the Celtic manager, later claimed it was all a misunderstanding.
  • Wigan are reportedly keen on Celtic midfielder Scott Allan, with former Hoops defender Gary Caldwell hopeful of bringing the ex-Hibs ace in on a season-long loan deal. Derk Boerrigter could attempt to revive his career in the USA, with the Dutch winger said to be keen on a move to MLS.
  • Next game is the Cup semi-final v TheRangers.
  • CGS hold a remembrance service for ex-Celt Alex Brady.


ReviewMotherwell 1 Celtic 2

(Hyde of KDS)
McDonald was offside.

Neil 'EBT' McCann's version of events was, as ever, viewed through blue-pound tinted glasses.

I though Griffith's was woeful, he seems to have adopted a Commons-esque first touch.

Kazin-Richards:doh: Had he placed his shot, quite literally, any where else it would have been a goal.

Scott Brown, what can one say? Beyond disappointing at times. Good to see Bitton have a strike, however, he's not at the races at present.

Toss of a coin as to whether he or Johansen stops playing most when 'crying' for a foul. Johansen is a huffy 'wee git' – hard to like him!

Kieran Tierney :praise:

Good to see Lustig improving … still looks afraid to hold on to the ball for more that a second, though.

'Bobo' Boyata … Jesus wept!

Ronnie Deila I just do not understand at all.

Apart from that, brilliant 3 points!

(vlad of KDS)
Result was all important and it was encouraging in that we created a good number of chances.
On another day we might have scored another four or five.

Still many concerns for me, especially the way poor control of the football leads to frequent loss of possession.
Kazim carries all the threat of Charles Hawtrey in a boxing ring and for me has shown little or nothing to justify inclusion in the side.

Good to see Griffiths back among the goals, but please take him off penalty taking duty and tell him to keep his shirt on.


Teams

Motherwell
1 Ripley
18 Law
16 Kennedy
6 McManus Booked at 83mins
3 Hammell
26 CaddenSubstituted for Ainsworth at 76'minutes
14 LasleySubstituted for Leitch at 76'minutes
17 GomisSubstituted for Thomas at 90'minutes
11 Johnson
77 McDonald
20 Moult

Substitutes
7 Ainsworth
13 Samson
15 Chalmers
21 Leitch
23 Thomas
28 Watt
32 Hall

Celtic
1 Gordon
23 Lustig
20 Boyata
21 Mulgrew
63 Tierney
8 Brown
6 Bitton
27 RobertsSubstituted for Armstrong at 90+1'minutes
25 JohansenSubstituted for Rogic at 70'minutes
13 Kazim-Richards Booked at 75minsSubstituted for McGregor at 76'minutes
9 Griffiths Booked at 45mins

Substitutes
3 Izaguirre
4 Ambrose
14 Armstrong
15 Commons
18 Rogic
38 Fasan
42 McGregor

Referee:William Collum
Attendance:9,123


Articles

  • Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

Forum

MOTM


Stats

Motherwell v Celtic
Possession
Home 44%
Away 56%
Shots
Home 9
Away 23
Shots on Target
Home 4
Away 13
Corners
Home 3
Away 6
Fouls
Home17
Away 12


Articles

BBC

By Tom English
BBC Scotland at Fir Park

9 April 2016
From the section Football




Leigh Griffiths scores for Celtic

Highlights: Motherwell 1-2 Celtic
Two Leigh Griffiths goals in a madcap win over Motherwell moved defending champions Celtic eight points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Celtic had eight attempts on goal in the first half – including a missed Griffiths penalty – before the striker made amends just before the break.
Motherwell had their goalkeeper Connor Ripley to thank for keeping them in it before Scott McDonald equalised.

But Griffiths struck again, the ball squirming through Ripley's legs.
It was a bitter end to what had been a terrific performance by the Englishman.
Celtic lorded it early on. The irony was that of all their pot-shots at goal the one shot that did not trouble Ripley was that missed Griffiths penalty.
Patrick Roberts, excellent in the first half, had the first of those chances, Nir Bitton the second and Griffiths the third. All of them were beaten away by Ripley.
Midway through the half, Roberts' quick feet bamboozled Morgaro Gomis and the penalty was won – and then missed. Griffiths pulled his effort wide of Ripley's left-hand post. Bizarrely for a man who has scored buckets of goals this season, it was Griffiths' fourth miss from the penalty spot since August.

Leigh Griffiths misses a penalty for Celtic against Motherwell
Griffiths fired his spot-kick attempt past the post
Ripley continued dealing with the Celtic barrage. Lovely build-up play put Colin Kazim-Richards through on goal but Ripley denied him, this time with his feet.
Motherwell, in that opening half, had none of the edge that had helped them win five on the spin. Their use of the ball was awful, their composure suffering some kind of peculiar bypass.
They continued to invite Celtic on to them. Kieran Tierney and Roberts, again, forced saves from Ripley. True, many of these blocks from the keeper were from attempts delivered straight down his throat, but he had still made seven saves by the time the game was 40 minutes old.
A minute before the break, he was beaten at last, Tierney delivering from the left and Griffiths sweeping it home from close range. One goal was the least that their pressure deserved, but even that slender margin was to be wiped out soon enough.
Motherwell turned up at the party in the second half. At last, they had a bit of attitude and accuracy going forward.
McDonald had the ball in the Celtic net 10 minutes into the half but it was disallowed, controversially, for offside. Celtic now became the nervy team. Dedryck Boyata was an unsettling presence at the heart of their defence as Motherwell's confidence grew.
The equaliser came on the hour when Chris Cadden got the better of Tierney on the left and pulled it back for Celtic's old boy, McDonald, to thump home, aided by a slight deflection off Boyata's knee. It was an emphatic finish from the Australian – one that utterly stunned the visitors.

Scott McDonald celebrates after scoring for Motherwell against Celtic
McDonald (far right) scored against his former club
Celtic dug it out, though. With 15 minutes left – and just after an angry exchange that could have seen Kazim-Richards sent off – Griffiths struck again, his snapshot going through Ripley's legs.
A frustrated figure for much of the afternoon, the irrepressible Celtic striker found a way of getting the job done – again.

Match ends, Motherwell 1, Celtic 2.

Full Time

90'+5'

Second Half ends, Motherwell 1, Celtic 2.

90'+4'

Attempt missed. Louis Moult (Motherwell) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.

90'+3'

Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from long range on the right is close, but misses to the right.

90'+3'

Foul by Jack Leitch (Motherwell).

90'+3'

Nir Bitton (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution

90'+1'

Substitution, Celtic. Stuart Armstrong replaces Patrick Roberts.

90'+1'

Foul by Scott McDonald (Motherwell).

90'+1'

Nir Bitton (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Substitution

90'

Substitution, Motherwell. Dom Thomas replaces Morgaro Gomis.

88'

Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

87'

Attempt saved. Lionel Ainsworth (Motherwell) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

84'

Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.

Booking

83'

Stephen McManus (Motherwell) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

83'

Foul by Stephen McManus (Motherwell).

83'

Nir Bitton (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

82'

Attempt missed. Louis Moult (Motherwell) header from the left side of the box misses to the left.

81'

Lionel Ainsworth (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

81'

Foul by Callum McGregor (Celtic).

80'

Attempt blocked. Lionel Ainsworth (Motherwell) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

79'

Attempt missed. Louis Moult (Motherwell) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.

78'

Corner, Motherwell. Conceded by Kieran Tierney.

Substitution

76'

Substitution, Motherwell. Lionel Ainsworth replaces Chris Cadden because of an injury.

Substitution

76'

Substitution, Celtic. Callum McGregor replaces Colin Kazim-Richards.

Substitution

76'

Substitution, Motherwell. Jack Leitch replaces Keith Lasley.

Booking

75'

Colin Kazim-Richards (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Goal!

75'

Goal! Motherwell 1, Celtic 2. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kieran Tierney.

71'

Louis Moult (Motherwell) wins a free kick on the right wing.

71'

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).

Substitution

70'

Substitution, Celtic. Tomas Rogic replaces Stefan Johansen.

70'

Attempt missed. Nir Bitton (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.

67'

Keith Lasley (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

67'

Foul by Colin Kazim-Richards (Celtic).

65'

Foul by Scott McDonald (Motherwell).

65'

Dedryck Boyata (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

64'

Scott McDonald (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

64'

Foul by Nir Bitton (Celtic).

63'

Scott McDonald (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

63'

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).

Goal!

60'

Goal! Motherwell 1, Celtic 1. Scott McDonald (Motherwell) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Chris Cadden.

60'

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).

60'

Marvin Johnson (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

58'

Attempt saved. Patrick Roberts (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

57'

Kieran Kennedy (Motherwell) wins a free kick on the left wing.

57'

Foul by Colin Kazim-Richards (Celtic).

56'

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Louis Moult.

56'

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Connor Ripley.

55'

Attempt saved. Patrick Roberts (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

52'

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Kieran Kennedy.

51'

Nir Bitton (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

51'

Foul by Keith Lasley (Motherwell).

50'

Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).

50'

Josh Law (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

48'

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Louis Moult.

47'

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Stephen McManus.

Second Half



Second Half begins Motherwell 0, Celtic 1.

Half Time

45'+2'

First Half ends, Motherwell 0, Celtic 1.

45'+1'

Colin Kazim-Richards (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.

45'+1'

Foul by Josh Law (Motherwell).

Booking

45'

Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.

Goal!

44'

Goal! Motherwell 0, Celtic 1. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Kieran Tierney.

44'

Foul by Louis Moult (Motherwell).

44'

Dedryck Boyata (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

42'

Attempt missed. Mikael Lustig (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is just a bit too high.

42'

Attempt saved. Patrick Roberts (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.

41'

Attempt saved. Kieran Tierney (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

41'

Attempt blocked. Patrick Roberts (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

38'

Scott McDonald (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

38'

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).

38'

Attempt saved. Colin Kazim-Richards (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

36'

Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

36'

Foul by Louis Moult (Motherwell).

34'

Foul by Chris Cadden (Motherwell).

34'

Nir Bitton (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

32'

Foul by Scott McDonald (Motherwell).

32'

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

32'

Corner, Motherwell. Conceded by Scott Brown.

32'

Attempt blocked. Marvin Johnson (Motherwell) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.

30'

Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

30'

Corner, Motherwell. Conceded by Charlie Mulgrew.

27'

Penalty missed! Bad penalty by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot is close, but misses to the right. Leigh Griffiths should be disappointed.

26'

Penalty conceded by Morgaro Gomis (Motherwell) after a foul in the penalty area.

26'

Penalty Celtic. Patrick Roberts draws a foul in the penalty area.

25'

Foul by Scott McDonald (Motherwell).

25'

Nir Bitton (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

24'

Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

24'

Keith Lasley (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

24'

Foul by Patrick Roberts (Celtic).

22'

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).

22'

Louis Moult (Motherwell) wins a free kick on the left wing.

22'

Foul by Scott McDonald (Motherwell).

22'

Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

20'

Scott McDonald (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

20'

Foul by Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic).

19'

Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left.

19'

Attempt saved. Scott Brown (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

19'

Foul by Louis Moult (Motherwell).

19'

Kieran Tierney (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.

17'

Attempt missed. Kieran Tierney (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.

16'

Attempt saved. Patrick Roberts (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

15'

Attempt missed. Scott Brown (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.

13'

Attempt saved. Marvin Johnson (Motherwell) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.

10'

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Josh Law.

9'

Attempt saved. Stefan Johansen (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

8'

Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

8'

Foul by Scott McDonald (Motherwell).

6'

Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.

3'

Patrick Roberts (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.

3'

Foul by Morgaro Gomis (Motherwell).

3'

Attempt saved. Chris Cadden (Motherwell) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

2'

Patrick Roberts (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

2'

Foul by Louis Moult (Motherwell).

Kick Off



First Half begins.

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.




Mark McGhee: Celtic handshake snub was ‘misunderstanding’

By

MOIRA GORDON

Published: 00:00 Sunday 10 April 2016

Read more: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/mark-mcghee-celtic-handshake-snub-was-misunderstanding-1-4095634#ixzz45WFRZbiX

Celtic manager Ronny Deila now has a metaphorical hand on the Premiership trophy but Mark McGhee was in no mood to shake it after his team were defeated by the champions-elect at Fir Park yesterday.
The Motherwell manager had shaken hands with members of the Celtic coaching staff at the final whistle but made a very obvious move to snub his Parkhead counterpart, prompting bemusement.
Quizzed about it in the post-match press conference, McGhee, who was obviously still furious about his team being denied a goal due to a tight offside decision, claimed he had no idea what his inquisitor was talking about. When it was suggested that he had blanked Deila he stated: “No, that’s not true. I’ve got nothing to say about that. Not a thing.”
However, he later claimed it had all been a misunderstanding. What actually happened was, at the beginning of the game, I felt as if when I went over to shake hands with the Celtic staff they blanked me,” explained McGhee. “I’ve spoken to Ronny about it and it was a total, 100 per cent misunderstanding on my part, and I accept totally he didn’t see me. That’s fine, and he and I have shaken hands.”
Deila did not speak to the media, first-team coach John Kennedy taking the questions. Celtic’s performance gives them a great boost ahead of next weekend’s Scottish Cup semi-final against Rangers. “Of course. It is massive,” he said. “If we take some of our first-half performance into that game then it will be good. In Celtic v Rangers games and semi-finals, anything can happen.”



Celtic show grit in title charge ahead of Old Firm crunch
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/celtic-show-grit-in-title-charge-ahead-of-old-firm-crunch-1-4096241
Leigh Griffiths celebrates his second goal with Kieran Tierney. Picture: Getty
Leigh Griffiths celebrates his second goal with Kieran Tierney. Picture: Getty


By
MOIRA GORDON


Published:
01:55 Monday 11 April 2016

A YEAR ago Kieran Tierney was doing what he had been doing all his life, watching Celtic from the sidelines and dreaming that one day he would be out there living the fantasy.
Motherwell – 1

“It’s important for me not to get too carried away with the atmosphere on Sunday and end up doing something silly”
McDonald 60

Celtic – 2

Griffiths 44, 75

On Saturday he helped Celtic edge another step closer to their fifth successive Premiership title and this Sunday he is hoping to aid their progress to the Scottish Cup final, beating Championship winners Rangers in the process.
In the stands as Celtic bettered Rangers in the League Cup last year, just another fan from the Wishaw Emerald Supporters bus, Tierney has come a long way in the 14 months since.
“Definitely! At that semi-final I never thought I would be in contention to play in the semi-final this year!” he said. But for all his youthfulness and relative inexperience, he will be one of the most seasoned Old Firm campaigners when the teams take to the Hampden turf on Sunday. “In terms of the atmosphere side of it anyway, and it would be a great game to be involved in so hopefully I can play.”

A ballboy at countless of the head-to-heads, he says he has only missed one or two of the derbies since he first started going to Celtic Park as a seven or eight-year-old. “I can’t remember the last one I missed.” But, pitchside as a ballboy, revelling in the joy of a last-gasp Jan Venegoor of Hesselink winner, in 2008, and celebrating a 3-0 win the last time the pair met on league duty – “when Charlie Mulgrew scored with a diving header” – he knows the value of keeping a cooler head this weekend.
“It’s important for me not to get too carried away with the atmosphere and end up doing something silly. I just need to treat it like every other game. It means everything, any semi-final would and all the boys know what it takes.
“Every player knows what it means, everyone in the world knows what these games are like. But it is down to us.”
Saturday’s performance and result will have done Celtic no harm, allowing them to head into the game with their tails up. On a day when a line was drawn between top and bottom six, many believe this was also the cut-off point in the chase for the league title.

With two goals, Leigh Griffiths secured Celtic the three points and ensured they made the most of Aberdeen’s slip-up. Eight points clear with just five games remaining, not only does it leave Ronny Deila’s men well-positioned to romp home, it also sets them up perfectly for the semi-final.
One of the most clichéd of football cliches is the one-game-at-a-time mantra. With the win over form team Motherwell done and dusted, the Parkhead side are able to switch their thoughts to a match that has been occupying the minds of so many others since the Scottish Cup semi-final draw was made, while Griffiths, a frontrunner for the Player of the Year accolade, felt he had answered critics who had been shining a light on his recent form.
Four games without a goal – including Scotland’s challenge match with Denmark – is as close as it comes to a lean spell for a player as clinical as he has been all season. But just when it mattered, he stepped up, showing remarkable character to bounce back from a missed first-half penalty, which he pulled wide of target and which prompted him to insist that he is 1 million per cent off spot-kick duties for the rest of the campaign.
He also had to weather the disappointment of an impressive display by Motherwell keeper Connor Ripley, who denied several Celtic scoring hopefuls in the first half, including the impressive Patrick Roberts, Nir Bitton, Colin Kazim-Richards and, on more than one occasion, Griffiths.
The Celtic forward had the last word, though, netting his first just before the interval. It was Tierney who delivered the ball in from the left, for him to sweep home and, while that was a cause for celebration, the full-back was kicking himself when he allowed Chris Cadden to get by him and cut the ball back for Scott McDonald, who was nursing a sense of injustice after an earlier effort had been chalked off for offside, to slam home.

But Tierney, getting what he later described as his third assist of the afternoon, weighed in with another quality ball that picked out Griffiths, whose winner slipped through Ripley’s legs to take the striker to 37 goals for the season and give the team the perfect platform for what lies ahead.

Read more: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/celtic-show-grit-in-title-charge-ahead-of-old-firm-crunch-1-4096241#ixzz45V9E7DZ0
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