| Match Pictures | Matches: 2019 – 2020 | 2019-20 Pictures |
Trivia
- Midweek league game
- The games are coming thick and fast at the moment.
- Celtic have a certain comfort zone at the moment in the league but long way to go.
- Sevco won their game 2-1 v Hibs, so Celtic remain top by 7pts (but Sevco have game in hand).
- Great goals tonight: Volley from McGregor and great free-kick from Eddie. Good to have Griffiths score also, he had a great game.
- Some saying this is Edouard's best game so far for Celtic, but he can do even better. Sutton even compares him to Larsson.
- Leigh Griffiths will not receive any retrospective punishment from the Scottish FA over an alleged stamping incident during the 4-1 win over Hamilton Accies. Correct decision.
- Former Celtic loan star Filip Benkovic claimed he had his heart set on joining Bristol City despite reported interest from the Hoops"I found out about interest from Bristol City a few weeks ago and I was really excited about that option."
- Sevco’s Alfredo Morelos in racism claim against Scottish clubs, but it’s just a diversion tactic from their problems, his disciplinary problems, his attitude and lack of interest for transfer to buy him.
- BBC pundit Michael Stewart has hit out at Sevco’s PR spin doctor and Jim Traynor. Sevco’s Morelos has been in the headlines for the last week after it was alleged that someone was spotted tampering with his car, but it was a PI hired by his wife. He then did an interview criticising this & that. On Monday's Radio Scotland Sportsound, Stewart queried the timing of the interview, as well as some strong comments about the club's communications chief Traynor. He said: "Last week somebody leaked a story about tampering with brakes, completely unfounded and what does it do? I get messages saying I'm complicit in attempted murder along with other people. Utter garbage. And that is what I find extremely disappointing, somebody stoking fires for their own personal gain." Stewart questioned the the club's PR and went on an astonishing rant against Traynor, at one point calling him a "bully". Number of people including some journos (like Graham Speirs) backed this all up. Lots of support for Stewart! Respect to him, but he go pulled from Radio Scotland for tonight but he was working on BT Sport.
- Celtic claim Alfredo Morelos's interview with Sky Sports was translated incorrectly. Celtic board say there were "inconsistencies" between the words spoken by the striker.Sky then pulled the interview in acknowledgment of this. "Translations provided to Celtic Football Club have shown inconsistencies between the words spoken during the interview broadcast and the subtitles used by Sky Sports. "In particular, and most concerning, while the broadcaster used the following subtitle on screen: 'Afterwards it was very frustrating to hear the crowd screaming at me. They were saying offensive and racist words.' "Mr Morelos does not use these words anywhere within the extended interview which has been broadcast across Sky’s platforms. "Celtic FC has asked Sky Sports to clarify their position on this matter."
- SKY TV came out and apologised and have put out a correct translation, and pulled their original video. Egg on their faces big time. Lot more to come out on this one.
- Celtic have been issued with two charges by the Scottish FA over a failure to ensure their players "conduct themselves in an orderly fashion" from match v Hamilton & Partick Thistle.“I thought it was ridiculous,” said Lennon. “We’ll wait and see what happens but I didn’t think there was anything in it."
- Ex-Celt Jack Hendry has undergone an operation on his knee after being injured in just his second appearance for Melbourne City. All the best to him.
- Screen legend Kirk Douglas has passed away at 103. RIP
Review![[Untitled]](https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/30340c460fe91917903316d93cdf6e23 "[Untitled]")
Written in Spanish, the message read: "Mejorate Pronto Alfredo" – "Get well soon Alfredo".
"Celtic brilliant tonight… some of the football tonight breathtaking. Edouard the closest thing to Larsson I’ve seen in a Celtic jersey… so unselfish, a team player, deadly finisher."
Chris Sutton
“Celtic players jumping up and down celebrating” Wee Gordon “We should all be jumping up and down celebrating. That was incredible to watch. Brilliant football from Celtic”.
BT Analyst
“That man (Calmac) is magnificent..If i could use him as an example to the Academy in Dundee..his decision making is phenomenal!” – Wee Strachan
(ET of KDS)
Think that's Edouard's best ever performance.
McGregor was nearly a 10/10 as well.
The link up play was out of this world at times.
What a lift Griffiths has given us.
(MLE of KDS)
That 3rd goal is absolutely amazing football. What a boy our Callum is. That's why he's the best midfielder we've had over the past 2 years.
Edouard is the best player in the country and a total treat to watch. His close control, manoeuvring of the opposition and footballing cool is unparalleled at the club. He can go as far as he wants in the game.
This shape can lead to some excellent attacking play but continually leaves us open at the back. Motherwell had 3 attackers lining up directly against our 3 defenders and could very well have had a couple of goals out of it. The argument of "but Ajer/Jullien/Brown made a mistake" isn't a good one as there will be individual errors in every match and the formation should give us the best chance of catching these before they result in a goal. That being said, i'm always going to enjoy scoring more than defending better…
What a start to the new year!
Teams
Motherwell
- 20 Gillespie
- 04 Grimshaw
- 31 GallagherBooked at 79mins
- 05 Hartley
- 03 Carroll
- 22 Donnelly
- 06 Campbell
- 19 Polworth
- 17 AaronsSubstituted forSeedorfat 57'minutes
- 09 Long Substituted forManzingaat 71'minutes
- 14 Hylton Substituted forMacIverat 71'minutes
- 1 Carson
- 2 Tait
- 11 Seedorf
- 12 Manzinga
- 24 Mugabi
- 37 MacIver
- 52 O'Hara
Celtic
- 67 Forster
- 05 Simunovic
- 02 Jullien
- 35 Ajer
- 49 Forrest
- 08 Brown
- 42 McGregor
- 21 Ntcham Substituted for Rogic at 86'minutes
- 03 Taylor
- 09 Griffiths Substituted for Christie at 71'minutes
- 22 Edouard Substituted for Klimala at 83'minutes
- 11Klimala
- 17Christie
- 18Rogic
- 23Bolingoli-Mbombo
- 27Elyounoussi
- 29Bain
- 57Welsh
- Edouard (9' minutes, 80' minutes),
- Griffiths (51' minutes),
- McGregor (75' minutes)
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Forum
MOTM
- Voting Thread
- Result Thread
- Winner –
Stats
Home Team
Motherwell
Away Team
Celtic
Possession
Home42%
Away58%
Shots
Home11
Away18
Shots on Target
Home4
Away6
Corners
Home4
Away2
Fouls
Home15
Away8
Articles
Motherwell 0-4 Celtic: Edouard at the double as McGregor stars in rout
Andrew Smith
Email
Published: 22:12
Updated: 22:17 Wednesday 05 February 2020
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/motherwell-0-4-celtic-edouard-at-the-double-as-mcgregor-stars-in-rout-1-5086545
There are certain bankable aspects of this re-upholstered Celtic team of 2020, and they were to the fore as Neil Lennon’s men came through another significant test in their quest to claim a ninth straight title, with fly colours all told. And a seven-point Premiership lead safelyt intact.
The Celtic of this year don’t just beat whatever is in front of them – they beat them by bagging at least three goals, and by being able to rely upon the predatory instincts of strike pair Odsonne Edouard and Leigh Griffiths.
The Frenchman’s double, and another from the rejuvenated 29-year-old, ensured that between them the pair have now plundered 11 of the 19 goals that Celtic have netted in six straight wins since the winter shutdown they entered on a low following the Old Firm defeat.
With that reverse their only blemish across their past 16 league games, Lennon’s men are gnashing hard on the bit between their teeth.
For since the Rangers defeat, the heights scaled have so often been about the sublime talents of Edouard. The 22-year-old took his tally for the season to 24, with Griffiths his wingman in making it four goals from six appearances this year.
There was litttle surprise that Lennon chose to retain his recently favoured 3-5-2 formation.
The as-you-were approach meant a fifth game in six that Edouard and Griffiths were deployed as the attacking duo.
Edouard struck for his first after only nine minutes, the home side allowing the forward and Callum McGregor to sprint forward in tandem as if they were jogging round the park.
The Scotland midfielder fed his team-mate in front of goal, and sloppy defending meant the Frenchman was able to tuck away the follow-up after his initial effort was blocked. His second, to make it 4-0 with 10 minutes of normal time remaining, was another free-kick in the style of his effort in the 4-1 win over Hamilton at the weekend.
Relatively close in once more, he seemed to defy the laws of physics in contriving to achieve such a parabolic arc to completely dazzle 'Well keeper Mark Gillespie.
With the scoreline at 1-0, Celtic’s goal led a charmed life – never more so than when Fraser Forster instinctively flicked away a drive from impressive debutant Rolando Aarons just before the interval.
Griffiths had his say after 52 minutes, despite having produced one of his more untidy displays of late. A sloppy pass by Oliver Ntcham that resulted in a clearance from Christopher Jullien was picked up by McGregor. He burst down the left wing and when he squared the ball Griffiths, after seeming to get it caught in his feet, dug it out and finished in the corner.
Motherwell were a beaten team then. Yet, for all that the scoreline might suggest otherwise, they had seriously tested Celtic’s back three – which had Jozo Simunovic in place of youngster Stephen Welsh from the weekend win at Hamilton – as no other opponent has been able to do in this past month.
Stephen Robinson’s men were unrecognisable from the team that served up such a soulless display in losing at Livingston at the weekend. With Celtic in town, for the opening period at least, the Fir Park men put on the game-face that made the confrontation third versus first.
The home side had Celtic under pressure from the off in adopting the high risk strategy of pushing their wide men right up the pitch, in the attempt to expoit spaces in behind Celtic’s wing-back James Forrest and Greg Taylor. They did so but the large wide open spaces their approach created both was the making of them and the breaking of them.
It is admirable to see a Scottish team go toe-to-toe with Celtic, but the outcome has an air of inevitability about it because Lennon’s side will wear opponents down by dint of their attacking intensity.
They had a hatful of chances to add to the three second half goals but will lose little sleep over that.
One man who will slumber soundly is McGregor, for ensuring that the goalscoring wasn’t just the Edouard-Griffiths show.
The Scotland midfielder has returned from the break looking entirely refreshed and his thirst for net-bulging moments has certainly been replenished.
His third goal of the year – and ninth of the season – was a corker, bringing under control a ball hoisted in from the right with one touch, before smearing a volley into the top corner.
'Ridiculous' – Neil Lennon hits out at SFA charges dished out to Celtic and Hamilton
Ridiculous: Neil Lennon has hut out at the SFA charges
Ridiculous: Neil Lennon has hut out at the SFA charges
Andrew Smith
Email
Published: 23:25
Updated: 23:28 Wednesday 05 February 2020
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/ridiculous-neil-lennon-hits-out-at-sfa-charges-dished-out-to-celtic-and-hamilton-1-5086569
Neil Lennon rounded on the charges brought by the SFA on Celtic and Hamilton Accies for “failing to act in an orderly fashion” during the Scottish champions’ 4-1 in Lanarkshire at the weekend.
The sanctions relate to referee Nick Walsh being surrounded by players from both sides in the aftermath of Leigh Griffiths appearing to put a foot down on the chest of Sam Wood.
The flashpoint led to pushing between Griffiths and Alex Gogic, for which both were booked, a judicial panel later clearing the Celtic striker of any offence for the contact with Woods.
“I thought it was ridiculous,” said Lennon. “We’ll wait and see what happens but I didn’t think there was anything in it. The media didn’t even ask me about it so I’m hoping nothing comes of it.
“For me Leigh didn’t do anything wrong and there was no malice or intent. If there was I’d be the first to say.
"Pushing him [Gogic] annoyed me so I had a quick chat with him. In terms of the new charge I’m surprised by it.”
BBC
By Jonathan Sutherland
BBC Scotland at Fir Park
From the section Scottish Premiership
Highlights: Motherwell 0-4 Celtic
Celtic extended their winning run since the winter break to six games with a comfortable 4-0 Scottish Premiership win at Motherwell.
Odsonne Edouard scored in each half, with Leigh Griffiths and Callum McGregor also netting after the break, as Celtic recorded an 11th consecutive domestic away victory by sweeping aside the league's third-placed side.
The result ensures Neil Lennon's men stay seven points ahead of Rangers, who scored late to beat Hibernian, though the Ibrox side have a game in hand.
Despite their heavy defeat, Motherwell remain three points ahead of Aberdeen in third.
'Magnificent Edouard can get better'
Reaction & as it happened
Second half surge too much for Motherwell
Celtic had looked like a well-oiled machine after their winter break, but Motherwell would make this a real contest in the first half.
Initially the champions appeared to be ready for more rampage, with their menacing 3-5-2 formation causing problems with Edouard and Griffiths up front.
But Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson had insisted his side would take the game to Celtic, and they did. Jermaine Hylton had the first real chance, but the winger snatched at it and the ball flew wide.
Edouard would make the first-half difference. Credit to Griffiths for stealing the ball from Liam Donnelly before feeding McGregor, who combined with Edouard on the edge of the box. The French striker saw his initial shot blocked but it bounced fortuitously back into his path and he fired low past Mark Gillespie to make it 1-0.
In an open first half, Motherwell responded immediately as Alan Campbell fired wide and winger Rolando Aarons – making his debut on loan from Newcastle – hit the post from a Liam Polworth cross. The lively Aarons would come close again with an angled drive from the edge of the box which Forster did well to divert over the bar.
So Motherwell with the better of the first-half chances, but Celtic in front and early in the second half it looked like it was game over.
Motherwell have gone three consecutive league games without a win for the first time since April 2019
McGregor did well to hit the bye-line before cutting back for Griffiths right between the sticks five yards from goal. The Scotland international could not miss – Celtic 2-0 in front.
The attacks suddenly became incessant. First Edouard set up Griffiths for a header which came back off the bar. Then Edouard played it into the path of Olivier Ntcham eight yards out, but the midfielder blazed over when he really should have scored.
Scott Brown fired in an effort which ricocheted towards goal, eventually into the gloves of Gillespie. Seconds later the ball was heading back toward the goalkeeper, who saved from McGregor. Seconds after that, he had to save again at the feet of Edouard. It was relentless.
Motherwell resisted until the final quarter hour when they were ripped apart by a goal of real quality from Celtic. James Forrest provided the assist for McGregor, who took a touch which set the ball up perfectly for him to hit a volley from 18 yards into the net.
The win would become even more emphatic as Edouard fired in a free kick from 20 yards to make it 4-0.
A tough scoreline on Motherwell who gave plenty to this match, but Celtic were on another level to end up with.
Man of the match – Odsonne Edouard
So many contenders for Celtic but Edouard once again takes the honour.
His quality shone through as the champions moved up through the gears. At times he was unplayable, setting up countless chances as well as scoring two himself.
'We were magnificent' – reaction
Motherwell 'had plenty of the first half' – Robinson
Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson: "We had plenty of the match in the first half. To create that many chances against Celtic, you have to take them.
"If you don't take your chances then, eventually, they'll wear you down. And they did – and won comfortably in the end."
Celtic manager Neil Lennon: "I enjoyed the second half a lot more than the first half. Motherwell's set up caused a few problems but we sorted that out at half-time and second half we were magnificent."