Match Pictures | Matches: 2025 – 2026
Trivia
- KO: 20:00, Wednesday, Sky Sports, Celtic TV, Motherwell fc TV ppv, match 37/38
- Penultimate league match.
- All matches being played concurrently. Hearts v Falkirk also live on Sky Sports. Celtic game wasn’t scheduled to be live on sky sports but deal made to show both games live.
- Motherwell had already begun selling access to the game through the club’s own £15 pay-per-view streaming service, but refunded fans after the change by Sky Sports so respect to Motherwell.
- Motherwell team wear a retro top for the original colours the club used to wear in their early years, celebrating 140 year anniversary.
- Incredibly, the league title will now go down to the last game Celtic v Hearts.
- Tonight: Hearts 3-0 Falkirk, Sevco 1-2 Hibernian (Sevco 4 league defeats in a row!, their manager had said at the start of the split this was going to be 5 cup finals to win, and actually they were the bookies favourite to win the title at that point as they had momentum).
- Hearts top 80pts +35GD, Celtic 79pts +30GD, Sevco 69pts +30GD
- Media going ape over the penalty decision, trying mental gymnastics to claim it was NOT a penalty, when all the pictures make it clear there was a handball (let alone the elbow). Apparently not definitively a handball, the pictures clearly show otherwise.
- SFA revealed that referee John Beaton and his family spent a night under the watch of police surveillance after penalty drama. In a statement, the SFA claims it comes as “the consequence of a hysterical media narrative, fuelled by irresponsible knee-jerk post-match media interviews, commentary and official social media posts”. They also state that rules will be strengthened to “to better protect those integral to the game” amid rising incidents this season and have urged caution to avoid possible escalations.
- Oasis: Liam Gallagher teases potential Oasis concert at Celtic Park in 2027!
- Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou, linked with Celtic, is frontrunner to be next manager of French Ligue 1 side Toulouse.
- Sevco have reportedly presented Celtic with a huge compensation claim following disorder after the Scottish Cup clash at Ibrox earlier this year. Seek Seven-Figure Celtic Ibrox Damage Bill Let see them take that one to court!
- Reports:
- Lech Poznan have made a cut-price £2m offer for Luis Palma.
- Shin Yamada on way back from his loan spell with Preussen Munster as they plan an overhaul following relegation to Germany’s third tier.
- Celtic leading the race for Bodo/Glimt’s Kasper Hogh, according to leading transfer reporter Gianluca Di Marzio.
Summary
FULL-TIME Motherwell 2-3 Celtic
Absolutely incredible!
In the last few seconds of added time, Celtic get a penalty to win it.
The champions go into the last game of the season needing to beat Hearts at Celtic Park.
Motherwell opened the scoring through Elliot Watt before Daizen Maeda struck level, and Benjamin Nygren’s thunderous effort put Celtic ahead.
Liam Gordon swept the hosts level with just five minutes to go before that late spot-kick from Kelechi Iheanacho.
Kelechi Iheanacho (pen) Wow! Coolly slotted in with his left foot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. A superb spot-kick from Kelechi Iheanacho under insane pressure.
“Iheanacho has been terrific for us with the little cameo roles that he’s done. “He’s had a really frustrating time this season with hamstring problems, but he has come up big for us in these weeks, absolutely big, and he was the one taking the penalty. “I was delighted that he was the one who was taking it. “Well, I have seen it back very, very briefly, it’s a handball, it looks as if it’s also an elbow to the side of the head as well. “VAR have asked the referee to come over and have a look at it, and he’s [had] no hesitation in giving the penalty.”
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill
“That’s huge, a special character had to take the penalty in that pressure. “The team were, again, working so hard, and you just think it’s going to go away from you, and you just get your mind ready, don’t lose the game and let’s go have the shootout at the weekend and see what happens. “But with this team, how many goals have we scored in the last minute? “Sometimes you need things to drop for you if you’re going to win titles, especially with how far we’ve come from since late December to still be in it, now with it all in your own hands. “We deserve to take it to the last day.”
Celtic captain Callum McGregor
“When they were checking a 96th minute penalty, you assume they [Celtic] are getting it,” Hearts head coach Derek McInnes tells Sky Sports. “It’s disgusting. We’re up against everybody. I don’t think it’s a penalty. “If I’m Motherwell, I’m really disappointed. It’s so poor and it looks as though [Celtic] have been given it. They are very fortunate. “It’s going to the last game. We’re delighted to be part of it. “To do it, we’re going to have to go and get a positive result. What a game it’s going to be.”
Hurting Hearts Manager Derek McInnes
“To be fair, I don’t have words, I don’t know how, but we’ve done it. “As you can see, the fans are still shouting, and we’re happy, and we have one more to go. “We need to get back now and focus on that. “I just kept cool, and it’s scary, but thankfully we got the victory, so we’re happy.”
Kelechi Iheanacho
asgardt of KDS:
This is a night that will be long remembered in the history of Celtic. It was simply miraculous. MON has carried the club’ on his shoulders and at 73 he still has the strength for it, and some.
I was listening on the radio, and honestly when they said it was a shy to Celtic and this woyld be our last chance. I just visualised in my mind an image of the shy coming over and Scales heading it in. So I was hopeful at that time, but the shy came to nothing and I sat back in my chair as shortbread wearily described the last dying embers of the match. Beating the farts by three goals being so unlikely I resigned myself to the title being pretty much done……and then the commentary team said something about a VAR check. I’d kind of lost interest by then and initially wasn’t sure which team it was for. When it became clear that it was for Celtic I sat up straight with a dwang. I could feel my heart beat starting to pound. When the award was confirmed and Iheanacho stepped up I felt sure he’d do it , the guy is the epitome of composure. And when he tucked it away I was jumping around the living room like a lunatic.
We didn’t just do that did we ?
Teams
Celtic
Manager: Martin O’Neill
Formation: 4 – 2 – 3 – 1
12, V. Sinisalo
63, K. Tierney, subbed for M. Saracchi at 78 mins
05, L. Scales,90’+1, Yellow Card at 90 mins plus 1
06, A. Trusty
02, A. Johnston, subbed for A. Ralston at 70 mins
27, A. Engels
42, C. McGregor (c), Captain
23, S. Tounekti, subbed for K. Ịheanachọ at 70 mins
08, B. Nygren, subbed for R. Hatate at 70 mins
13, Yang Hyun-Jun, subbed for J. Forrest at 78 mins
38, D. Maeda,61′, Yellow Card at 61 mins
Subs:
31, R. Doohan
49, J. Forrest
41, R. Hatate
14, L. McCowan
47, D. Murray
21, A. Oxlade-Chamberlain
56, A. Ralston
36, M. Saracchi
17, K. Ịheanachọ,90’+10, Yellow Card at 90 mins plus 10
Goals:
D. Maeda (41′)
B. Nygren (58′)
K. Ịheanachọ (90’+9 pen)Penalty 90 minutes plus 9
Assists:
Yang Hyun-Jun (58′)
Motherwell
Manager: Jens Berthel Askou
Formation: 4 – 2 – 3 – 1
Starting lineup
13, C. Ward
45, E. Longelo,90’+8, Yellow Card at 90 mins plus 8
22, J. Koutroumbis, subbed for L. Gordon at 81 mins
02, S. O’Donnell (c), Captain
07, T. Sparrow
20, E. Watt
12, L. Fadinger
21, E. Just, subbed for C. Hendry at 88 mins
08, C. Slattery, subbed for Regan Charles-Cook at 69 mins
90, I. Said, subbed for S. Nicholson at 81 mins
18, T. Maswanhise, subbed for O. Priestman at 88 mins
Subs:
29, M. Booth
31, M. Connelly
77, Regan Charles-Cook
04, L. Gordon
66, C. Hendry
25, O. Priestman
19, S. Nicholson,90’+1, Yellow Card at 90 mins plus 1
28, L. Ross
48, A. Thomson
Goals:
E. Watt (17′)
L. Gordon (85′)
Assists:
Match Officials
Referee: John Beaton
Video Assistant Referee: Andrew Dallas
Assistant Referee 1: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee 2: Jonathan Bell
Fourth Official: Colin Steven
Assistant VAR Official: Sean Carr
Att:
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
Stats
Basic Stats
Overall possession
Motherwell 47.5%
Celtic 52.5%
Shots
Motherwell 15
Celtic 10
Shots on target
Motherwell 5
Celtic 3
Total touches inside the opposition box
Motherwell 25
Celtic 20
MOT
CEL
Goalkeeper saves
Motherwell 0
Celtic 3
Aerial duels won
Motherwell 7
Celtic 14
Fouls committed
Motherwell 9
Celtic 15
Corners
Motherwell 4
Celtic 3
In-depth match stats
Attack
Shots
Motherwell 15
Celtic 10
Shots on target
Motherwell 5
Celtic 3
Shots off target
Motherwell 2
Celtic 5
Attempts out of box
Motherwell 5
Celtic 6
Hit woodwork
Motherwell 1
Celtic 1
Total offsides
Motherwell 1
Celtic 0
Distribution
Total passes
Motherwell 493
Celtic 546
Pass accuracy %
Motherwell 82.4
Celtic 85.2
Backward passes
Motherwell 89
Celtic 78
Forward passes
Motherwell 146
Celtic 152
Total long balls
Motherwell 64
Celtic 54
Successful final third passes
Motherwell 98
Celtic 98
Total crosses
Motherwell 16
Celtic 11
Defence
Total tackles
Motherwell 14
Celtic 19
Won tackle %
Motherwell 57.1
Celtic 68.4
Fouls committed
Motherwell 9
Celtic 15
Total yellow cards
Motherwell 2
Celtic 3
Total clearances
Motherwell 14
Celtic 39
Pre Match Facts
Motherwell’s 2-0 win in December was their first in 21 home games against
Celtic in all competitions (D4 L16) since winning successive home games against them in February/April 2013.
Celtic have lost just one of their last 37 meetings with Motherwell in all competitions (W31 D5), also failing to score just once in their last 27 against the Steelmen.
Including the curtailed 2019-20 season, Motherwell have won their final home league game in seven of the last nine seasons (L2), beating Kilmarnock 3-0 last year.
Celtic won their final away league game in both 2023-24 (5-0 v Kilmarnock) and 2024-25 (5-1 v Aberdeen), but haven’t done so in three successive seasons since 1994-95 to 1996-97.
Tawanda Maswanhise has scored nine home goals for Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership this season. The last player to reach double figures for the Steelmen was Kevin van Veen in 2022-23 (10), while the last to score more than 10 was David Turnbull in 2018-19 (12).
Articles
Celtic’s late late show sets up title showdown at Paradise
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2026/may/13/celtic-s-late-late-show-sets-up-title-showdown-at-paradise/
First Team
By Matthew Campbell
Share
13 May 2026, 10:04 pm
Scottish Premiership
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Fir Park, Motherwell
MOTHERWELL…2
(Watt 17, Gordon 85)
CELTIC…3
(Maeda 41, Nygren 58, Iheanacho 90 +9)
Celtic will have the chance to win the title against Hearts on Saturday afternoon at Celtic Park after a last-gasp 3-2 victory over Motherwell at Fir Park kept the gap at the top of the table to just one point.
With so much on the line this evening, Celtic looked to put pressure on the home side from the start and with just over five minutes gone, the Hoops had fashioned two chances.
The first, a free kick from Arne Engels went wide of the target from 30 yards out, whilst the second saw Alistair Johnston burst in to the area and flash a ball towards the six-yard box, which the Motherwell defence dealt with.
Motherwell took the lead with just over 15 minutes gone, when a ball in to the box from Tom Sparrow was forced out to the edge of the area where Elliott Watt was waiting. Watt’s effort was a powerful one and even a touch from Sinisalo wasn’t enough to keep it out of the net.
That opener spurred the home side and their support on and for the next 10 minutes, the Hoops had to deal with a number of forward runs and crosses in to the box from Jens Berthel Askou’s men.
Celtic fashioned a great opportunity which could have led to an equaliser in the 25th minute when Sebastian Tounekti went tearing away down the left wing in to a good crossing position after linking up with Benjamin Nygren, but the Tunisian winger’s cross was massively overhit and the chance was gone.
The equaliser that Celtic desperately required came with five minutes of the first half to go, with Daizen Maeda producing a finish from a difficult angle to find the back of the net via the inside of the post.
The pass through to the Japanese forward came from Motherwell’s Callum Slattery, whose full-blooded sliding challenge on Yang sent the ball in Maeda’s direction, and he made no mistake as he claimed his seventh goal in five games.
In the final minute of the half, Motherwell goalkeeper Calum Ward clattered in to Daizen Maeda in the box after a lofted pass in to the area from Callum McGregor.
With Maeda still laid out on the ground, Arne Engels pounced on the loose ball and hit the crossbar with an effort from the edge of the box, with the Hoops unlucky not to go in one goal ahead at the break.
48%
Possession
53%
15
Shots
10
5
Shots On Target
3
4
Corners
3
9
Fouls
15
2
0
Cards
3
0
Motherwell found themselves with a big chance just moments in to the second half when Elijah Just burst in to the Celtic penalty area, but just as he pulled the trigger on what would have been an effort on target, Callum McGregor appeared on the scene to make a crucial block.
With a little over 10 minutes of the second half played, Benjamin Nygren fired Celtic in to the lead with a truly sublime finish from the edge of the box.
Yang laid the ball off to the Swede, allowing him to take a strike which dipped in to the top corner of the net just in front of the travelling Celtic support, who went wild in celebration.
Martin O’Neill made three changes with 70 minutes on the clock, bringing Anthony Ralston, Kelechi Iheanacho and Reo Hatate on in place of Alistair Johsnton, Sebastian Tounekti and Benjamin Nygren.
Soon after coming on, Kelechi Iheanacho went for a spectacular effort from the halfway line after Elliott Watt completely missed the ball, but the Nigerian’s attempt to lob the keeper from the middle of the park drifted wide of the target.
Further changes soon followed for Celtic as Yang and Kieran Tierney made way for James Forrest and Marcelo Saracchi.
Motherwell came close to equalising with 10 minutes left when Elliot Watt’s effort from distance hit the cross bar and came to Tawanda Maswanhise, but his headed effort was well saved by Vil Sinisalo.
With just over five minutes left on the clock, Motherwell did level the game, with the ball breaking to Liam Gordon a few yards out from goal. Celtic had thrown their bodies on the line to prevent several chances in the build-up, but could do nothing to stop Gordon’s equaliser.
Then, in the fifth minute of stoppage time, this dramatic season took another crazy twist. A Celtic throw-in, launched in to the box, was handled by Sam Nicholson, and all of a sudden, when it looked like the Hoops would need to beat Hearts by at least three goals on the final day of the season, an opportunity to simplify Saturday’s task was presented in the form of a penalty kick.
Kelechi Iheanacho stepped up, the coolest man inside Fir Park, and dispatched his spot-kick in to the bottom corner sparking wild celebrations in the away stand and in Celtic-supporting pubs, clubs and living rooms all around the world.
The Hoops now look forward to Saturday afternoon, where Hearts are the visitors to Celtic Park for the final league match of the season in a winner-takes-all shoot-out.
Motherwell: Ward, Sparrow, O’Donnell, Koutroumbis (Gordon 81′), Longelo, Fadinger, Watt, Said (Nicholson 81′), Slattery (Charles-Cook 69′), Just (Hendry 88′), Maswanhise (Priestman 88′)
Subs: Gordon, Nicholson, Priestman, Ross, Booth, Connelly, Thomson, Hendry, Charles-Cook
Celtic: Sinisalo, Johnston (Ralston 70′), Trusty, Scales, Tierney (Saracchi 78′), McGregor, Engels, Hyunjun Yang (Forrest 78′), Nygren (Hatate 70′), Tounekti (Iheanacho 70′), Maeda
Subs: McCowan, Iheanacho, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Doohan, Saracchi, Hatate, Murray, Forrest, Ralston
Manager delighted as victory takes title tilt to the final day
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2026/may/13/manager-delighted-as-victory-takes-title-tilt-to-the-final-day/
First Team
By Paul Cuddihy, Celtic View Editor
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13 May 2026, 10:55 pm
So often this season, Celtic have delivered victories from what has appeared like the depths of despair with last-gasp goals.
Each win is vital in its own right over the course of the campaign, but Wednesday night’s 3-2 victory over Motherwell at Fir Park was the most special of them all.
With time all but over, and the game tied at 2-2, which would have meant Celtic having to beat Hearts by four goals at the weekend to win the title, the Hoops were awarded a penalty for handball following a VAR review.
Kelechi Iheanacho was the coolest man in Fir Park as he stepped up after a lengthy delay to slot the ball home to give Martin O’Neill’s side all three points.
It now means that a Celtic victory over Hearts at home this Saturday will deliver the Premiership title back to Paradise.
Speaking to Celtic TV after the game, the Celtic manager said: “It was so, so dramatic at the end, and for Iheanacho to step up and take the penalty, and the manner he did, was really fantastic.
“But the game itself was always going to be a difficult game for us. Motherwell came out and played in the manner in which they’ve done all season, but we fought back and then took the lead. It was a great goal.
“Then they got the equaliser and time was running out, but we forced it again and we just never give up.
“The thing that I’m pleased about the most – at least we’ve taken it to the final game. It sounds a long way off but we’re ready for the battle.”
Iheanacho’s late VAR penalty hands Celtic a dramatic comeback victory at Motherwell
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/13/scottish-premiership-motherwell-celtic-match-report
PA Media
Wed 13 May 2026 22.32 BST
Kelechi Iheanacho scored a penalty winner nine minutes into stoppage time after a video review, boosting Celtic’s Premiership defence thanks to a comeback win at Motherwell as the most dramatic title race in decades took another sensational twist.
Iheanacho slotted a spot-kick as former Hearts midfielder Sam Nicholson was penalised for handball after jumping to head the ball away. The ball appeared to hit his raised hand right in front of his head.
Another former Hearts player, Liam Gordon, had appeared to hand his old club a massive advantage in the title race after netting an 85th-minute equaliser.
Frankie Kent celebrates.
Hearts see off Falkirk but Celtic’s late show sets up final-day title decider
Read more
Celtic were heading into a title decider needing to beat the Jambos by three goals and they did not look like getting a winner until referee John Beaton was called to the monitor by video assistant Andrew Dallas as five minutes of stoppage time were coming to a close.
Beaton pointed to the spot and Iheanacho kept his cool to seal victory and spark a pitch invasion from the visiting fans.
Motherwell had been heading into Europe moments earlier but the penalty drama was compounded by Hibernian’s late winner at Ibrox and they will now need to avoid defeat at Easter Road on Saturday to secure fourth.
The victory means Celtic now face a simple equation on Saturday – they will win the title if they beat Hearts.
Martin O’Neill’s previous trip to Fir Park as Celtic manager saw his side lose the title in the closing stages of the 2004-05 season when Scott McDonald’s late double handed Rangers the glory. He looked set for more anguish in Lanarkshire as Motherwell, wearing their original blue colours to mark their 140th anniversary, dominated the opening stages.
Elliot Watt volleyed them ahead from 22 yards in the 17th minute and they threatened to carve Celtic open on other occasions.
Panic was evident among the travelling fans as Celtic struggled to get going – and leaders Hearts scored twice at Tynecastle on their way to a 3-0 win – but they came into the game towards the end of the first half.
Benjamin Nygren Celtic’s second goal at Fir Park
Benjamin Nygren Celtic’s second goal at Fir Park. Photograph: Robert Perry/PA
Daizen Maeda dragged a half-chance wide and soon found his range in the 41st minute as he fired in off the post after getting the break of the ball when Callum Slattery tracked back to tackle Yang Hyun-jun.
Arne Engels lobbed the ball off the crossbar before the break after Maeda had collided with Motherwell goalkeeper Calum Ward following Callum McGregor’s lofted ball.
Celtic pressed in the opening stages of the second half but were left space in behind and Slattery played Elijah Just down the left channel.
The New Zealand international turned inside Auston Trusty but lost balance slightly and McGregor got back to make a crucial tackle. Motherwell threatened again after a wonderful passing move but Slattery slipped as he looked set to shoot from 15 yards.
Benjamin Nygren produced a moment of magic to net out of the blue from 25 yards in the 58th minute, with Motherwell defending in numbers.
With goal difference no longer an issue as long as Celtic collected three points, the champions tried to keep their hosts at bay. They could not and the home side’s pressure built. Watt deflected a shot off the crossbar before Viljami Sinisalo grabbed Tawanda Maswanhise’s follow-up header on his line.
The Celtic goalkeeper made an excellent one-handed stop from Just, but was beaten by Gordon after Maswanhise was twice denied.
Motherwell looked the more likely team to net a winner in the following moments but there was another twist as Beaton was sent to the screen after the indicated five minutes of stoppage time had elapsed.
Hearts and Celtic set up final day Scottish Premiership title decider after VAR penalty award at Motherwell
Mark Atkinson
By Mark Atkinson
Head of Sport
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/latest-hearts-news/hearts-and-celtic-set-up-final-day-scottish-premiership-title-decider-after-var-penalty-award-at-motherwell-8542564
Comment
Published 13th May 2026, 22:08 BST
Updated 13th May 2026, 22:29 BST
Leaders win comfortably – but champions given handball award right at death
The Scottish Premiership title race will go to a final-day showdown between leaders Hearts and second-placed Celtic after both teams secured priceless victories on a dramatic night of football.
Hearts were convincing 3-0 winners over Falkirk at Tynecastle, moving on to 80 points. First-half goals from Frankie Kent and Cammy Devlin put them in control against the Bairns before Blair Spittal added a third. The result meant that they have completed a full season undefeated at home for the first time since 1986.
It wasn’t enough to clinch the league title with a game to spare as Celtic battled back to defeat Motherwell 3-2 at Fir Park with a 98th-minute winner from the penalty spot. Elliot Watt put the hosts in front on 17 minutes, but Daizen Maeda levelled just before the break and then Benjamin Nygren netted his 21st goal of the season to put the champions in front.
Liam Gordon looked to have sealed a point for Motherwell with five minutes to go and put Hearts on the brink of winning the league, but Kelechi Iheanacho netted from the spot after Sam Nicholson was deemed to have handled the ball in the box after a VAR review from referee John Beaton. Iheanacho scored to send the title race to the last day.
Celtic are now on 79 points and host Hearts on Saturday lunchtime. If they win, they will retain their Premiership crown, but should Hearts win over even draw, they will be crowned champions of Scotland for the first time since 1960.
Hearts have led the Premiership since September and have been impervious at home all season. Tynecastle was packed to the rafters for the visit of a Falkirk side that knocked them out of the Scottish Cup back in January on penalties. And while the Bairns started the game well and had a goal disallowed from Calvin Miller, once Hearts took the lead, they never looked back.
It was far less straightforward for Celtic over in Lanarkshire. However, they battled back from behind once again and have now won six league games in a row since losing to Dundee United at Tannadice in mid-March.
Hearts and Celtic both have Champions League football to look forward to next season as they are guaranteed a place in the top two. Finishing at the summit of the Premiership means the champions will enter Europe’s top tournament at the play-off round and are one tie away from reaching the main phase of the competition and unlocking a £30 million bounty.
Even if they do lose that two-legged affair, they will drop into the main phase of the Europa League for the first time in the club’s history.
The team that finishes in second place enters the Champions League in the second qualifying round.
Celtic v Hearts takes place on Saturday with a 12.30pm kick off. The match will be shown live on Sky Sports.
BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c3627z3828gt#Report
Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland at Fir Park
Celtic secured an incredible title lifeline as Kelechi Iheanacho’s controversially awarded 99th-minute penalty earned a win at Motherwell that leaves them a point behind Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts before the sides meet in Glasgow on Saturday.
Martin O’Neill’s side had recovered from Motherwell’s opener to lead just before the hour, only for their hosts to level in the 85th minute.
At that stage, the defending champions would have needed to beat Hearts by three goals at Celtic Park on the final day to retain their title.
But, deep into injury time, Celtic defender Auston Trusty went down claiming he had been caught by a stray elbow. Referee John Beaton was sent to the monitor and ultimately awarded a spot-kick for handball.
Iheanacho kept his composure to roll in the penalty, spark chaotic scenes and leave Celtic knowing that a win of any kind on Saturday will make them champions.
This season has delivered undiluted drama and it did not stop here. The pace was unrelenting. The atmosphere electric. The stakes enormous. The ending will be talked about for the rest of time.
Motherwell, who had previously only lost twice at Fir Park this season – both to Falkirk – looked in control early on and profited in pursuit of their European dream.
That inched closer when Elliot Watt’s volley seemed to take a small nick off Trusty and evade goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo.
Soon after, Hearts took the lead and were title winners as it stood. But one thing Celtic have shown this term is resilience and again so it was again here.
As in the weekend win over Rangers, Daizen Maeda was key. A sliding challenge diverted the ball into his path and he fired in brilliantly off the post to level.
Six goals in four top-six matches is outstanding – more so given the context of this incredible title race.
Arne Engels struck the bar after Calum Ward bundled into Maeda but, just as Motherwell seemed to have gathered themselves again, Benjamin Nygren produced yet another vital goal.
The Swede gathered on the edge of the area and fired a tremendous strike into the top corner.
Motherwell responded, though, and hunted for a leveller. Tom Sparrow’s shot deflected onto the bar; Tawanda Maswanhise was denied on the follow up; Sinisalo thwarted Elijah Just.
Liam Gordon would not be repelled, though, slotting home after Maswanhise was twice denied.
That seemed to have handed the initiative to Hearts but somehow Celtic got out of jail and Iheanacho stayed cool to ensure the title somehow remains in his side’s hands.
Fate sends Martin O’Neill back to Fir Park for 2005 Title Redemption
Fate sends Martin O’Neill back to Fir Park for 2005 Title Redemption
By David Faulds – 13th May 2026, 08:25am
Martin O’Neill allowed his thoughts to drift back to Celtic’s Black Sunday in May 2005 when Celtic threw away the title on the last day of the season at Fir Park…
Tonight though he gets the chance to right that particular wrong from a game that was for many who was there – including myself – a real low point in following the Hoops.
We used to be given the far corner of the main stand and I had a front row seat there to see the two late goals from Scott McDonald that gave Rangers – who were staying in their own and so were Tony Mowbray’s Hibs at Easter Road – an underserved title. Celtic though were authors of our own misfortune going into the final two games five points clear then losing them both.
By 2005 standards the Hearts lead of one point with two to play, is slender. Anything can happen and we can expect a few more highs and lows coming the way of both title hopefuls tonight and maybe on Saturday when Hearts (who could win it tonight if they win and Celtic lose) come to Celtic Park.
“It’s a different set of circumstances,” Martin O’Neill told written mainstream media yesterday afternoon at Lennoxtown, when asked about that 2-1 defeat at Fir Park on the last day of the 2004-05 season.
“It’s just ironic that it should be this. It could be all over tomorrow night if we don’t get a result. We have to win the game.”
Black Sunday hurt and the pain lingered. Tonight is a chance to put it to bed once and for all.
“So that still remains a massive disappointment to me, that game in 2005. But a different set of circumstances and this group of players wouldn’t even have heard about it,” the veteran Celtic manager said, as reported by The Herald. “I thought we should have won out of the park at the end of that day.
“We missed goal after goal. Marshall was brilliant in goal for them. I remember John Hartson headed one from about two yards, and it hit him straight in the face.
“And you got the feeling as the game was going on, there might be some sort of foreboding there. But listen, it happened. We should have won. We didn’t. It played on my mind for about 15 years, but after that I let it go.”
And as fate would have it, he’s back at Celtic this season and twice has had to drag Celtic back into contention to ultimately send him back to Fir Park to put the rest a memory that has haunted him and the Celtic support of a certain vintage for just over two decades. Martin was asked if he believes in fate?
“If it happens, yeah. I’ll say that if we get beaten at Motherwell, and that constitutes us losing [the league title], then I will never visit Fir Park again in my life. I will take a detour. I’ll go to Wishaw instead. I’ll visit the Tommy Gemmell statue!”
After a poor performance and a 2-0 defeat on a disgraceful surface at Tannadice on 22 March , Celtic looked down and out as the title looked like being a straight battle between Hearts and their big cousins. That game was followed by an international break and that turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Celtic. The squad got back together after that, re-focused on their targets and haven’t looked back since.
Martin O’Neill takes Celtic to Fir Park knowing that a win there followed by victory over Hearts on Saturday secures the title ahead of the Scottish Cup final the following weekend against Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline Athletic side.
“We were obviously down after Dundee United and had a reset after that,” the interim Celtic manager admitted. “Some of the players left for international duty, so I don’t really know what they were thinking.
“But when we came back, there was a mindset that we had to win football matches. Now, saying you have to win football matches and actually doing it are two totally different things. But there was no room for error, as it has been proved.
“We have picked up all our points since then, and we’re still behind. But there was a feeling at that stage where we believed we could still do it.”
The bookies have had Hearts favourites for most of the season. However going into the split it was the Rangers who headed the betting with Celtic third favourites. After the weekend results, with Hearts drawing at Fir Park on Saturday night and Celtic beating the Rangers 3-1 on Sunday, the bookies made Celtic the favourites to win the league, which would be an undisputed record number of 56 flags won. Celtic are really going for it.
“I don’t agree Celtic are now favourites,” Martin O’Neill said. “I don’t see it like that. I genuinely don’t see it like that at all.
“Our fixture against Motherwell now is extremely difficult. We have to win the game, and winning at Fir Park is not easy. They have something to play for, too, so it will be difficult.
“I know it seems an easy equation: we just need to win our two games. I would have taken that after we lost to Dundee United, of course. But the two games happen to be extremely difficult.”
As the finishing line is now in sight, and with a fast approaching Celtic on their shoulders heading in their final furlong of an incredible season, Martin O’Neill was asked if there’s now more pressure on Hearts than his team.
“I don’t know,” he replied. “I think you would have to ask them. That sounds like I’m almost trying to pile pressure on someone else. But we have our own pressure we have to deal with.”
Both games this evening are now on Sky Sports. It was an incredibly poor decision by the broadcaster to think that just showing the Hearts v Falkirk game was sufficient.
Penalty for this? Celtic and Hearts face title decider as McInnes slams ‘disgusting’ call
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c20211evnlvo
00:59
Figure caption,
Late VAR penalty decision boosts Celtic
ByGeorge O’Neill
BBC Sport Scotland
Published
8 hours ago
Hearts head coach Derek McInnes says his side are “up against everybody” after a “disgusting” 99th-minute penalty winner for Celtic ensured the Scottish Premiership title race would go to a final-day decider on Saturday.
With league leaders Hearts cruising to a 3-0 win over Falkirk, the concession of a late equaliser at Motherwell looked like leaving Celtic three points back before Hearts go to Glasgow on Saturday.
However, deep into injury time, video assistant referee (VAR) Andrew Dallas called referee John Beaton to the pitchside monitor after Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson challenged for a high ball.
Replays seemed to show the ball hitting Nicholson’s head, rather than his raised hand, but Beaton awarded a spot-kick which Kelechi Iheanacho converted to snatch a 3-2 win.
Former England striker Gary Lineker wrote on X that it “might be the worst VAR decision I’ve seen… extraordinary given the significance” and McInnes fumed at the call afterwards.
Penalty pandemonium sets up Hearts & Celtic showdown for the ages
Published
7 hours ago
Draw at Celtic Park will earn Hearts title after Falkirk draw
Controversial 99th-minute penalty keeps Celtic’s title hopes alive
“When you heard Celtic had a 96th-minute penalty going to VAR, you just assume they get it,” the incandescent Hearts head coach told Sky Sports.
“It’s disgusting. We’re up against it, we’re up against everybody. I don’t think it’s a penalty. It’s so poor and it looks as though [Celtic] have been given it. They have been very fortunate.”
Had Celtic dropped points, Hearts could have afforded to lose by two goals at Celtic Park on Saturday and still be crowned champions for the first time since 1960.
Now, though, they must avoid defeat if they are to become the first side outside Celtic or Rangers to win the Scottish top flight in four decades.
“It’s going to the last game. We’re delighted to be part of it,” McInnes added.
“To do it, we’re going to have to go and get a positive result. I’m looking forward to it already, there’ll be no feeling sorry for ourselves. What a game it’s going to be.”
Scottish football goes beyond VAR tipping point as world wades in on title storm
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/scottish-premiership/latest-premiership-news/scottish-football-goes-beyond-var-tipping-point-as-world-wades-in-on-title-storm-8544148
Latest controversy shows decisions have gone beyond a joke now
By Alan Pattullo
Chief Football Writer
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Published 14th May 2026, 07:10 BST
Step aside Joe Jordan. Your reign as the protagonist in the most disputed handball case in British football is over. Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson will know how Wales defenders felt on that night at Anfield.
The 1977 incident, which put Scotland well on the way to qualifying for the World Cup at Wales’ expense, happened long before VAR. Such obvious examples of erroneous calls at crucial moments are why VAR was brought in. It was meant to make football a less contentious game.
Remember what the press release promised prior to that fateful evening when the technology was implemented for the first time at a Hibs v St Johnstone match in October 2022? Video Assistant Referees at Clydesdale House will assist on-field referees “in the event of a clear and obvious error or a serious missed incident” regarding the following criteria: straight red cards, penalty area incidents, goals and mistaken identity.
Clear and obvious? As Pat Nevin said on radio on Wednesday night while re-watching Nicholson make a clearing header with his left arm up near his forehead when challenging Celtic defender Auston Trusty: “We could watch this a hundred times….if I was to absolutely stick my neck out, I would say it (the ball) touched the edge of his pinky”. So hardly basis for which to make a decision that threatens to be pivotal to a league title race.
The statement from the SFA when VAR was rolled out for the first time at Easter Road goes onto thank the 12 Premiership clubs at the time for “embracing the process – and the significant financial commitment – and hope that everyone involved will show a degree of patience and understanding in the initial phase”.
No one mention patience to Derek McInnes. The Hearts manager stopped trying to understand the “process” long ago, having been directly affected by seemingly arbitrary handball decisions. Hearts had one on Saturday night, when the ball ran down David Longelo’s arm during their 1-1 draw with Motherwell, that looked more like a penalty than the Nicholson incident.
McInnes is still seething about being denied a penalty when Alexandros Kyzidiris was seemingly tripped by Motherwell’s Tawanda Maswanhise in the same game. Indeed, this was in the same area of the away end penalty box at Fir Park as the latest incident. Before Celtic begin their summer transfer business, maybe they should make a bid for the patch of grass and install it in their museum: this was where the Scottish title 2025/26 was won and lost. The consequences of these decisions are this significant.
The sliding doors penalty moments
If referee Steven McLean had followed convention and awarded Hearts a penalty after being called to the monitor after Kyziridis was felled (and if Lawrence Shankland had then scored from 12 yards), Hearts would almost certainly now be Scottish champions.
Likewise, if Andrew Dallas, on VAR at Fir Park on Wednesday night, had allowed play to continue with a throw in after Nicholson’s header, then Hearts would have one hand on the trophy. Even after John Beaton was called to the sidelines to consider whether the ball had struck the Motherwell player’s hand, he still could have said ‘No, I do not see enough in that’, as McLean had done a few days earlier while consulting the same monitor.
It’s almost comical to remember clubs are paying for this farrago. It’s now reached the tipping point. In fact, it’s gone beyond that. There needs to be a serious and detailed conversation this summer about why clubs are forking out to be forked over, to coin a phrase.
When even Gary Lineker is stepping into the debate because of something that’s happened in Scottish football, you know it’s reached a point where the problem can’t be ignored any longer. The former England striker doesn’t give the impression he watches much Scottish football unless a game is on in his hotel room when he’s up golfing.
But even he was moved to post on X on Wednesday night a clip of the incident in question. “This might be the worst VAR decision I have seen (and there’s a lot of competition).” he wrote. “Extraordinary given the significance.”
That’s one way of putting it. “Disgusting” is another, which is how McInnes described the decision that means his team must secure at least a point at Parkhead on Saturday to win the league for the first time since 1960. Until the sixth minute of injury time at Fir Park, Hearts were heading to Parkhead with very realistic hopes of simply avoiding a 3-0 defeat to be crowned champions. Their players were already milling around the pitch at Tynecastle, accepting the applause from fans after doing what they had to do against Falkirk. Someone informed McInnes of the penalty award at Motherwell. “I didn’t have to ask who for,” he quipped. It’s gone beyond a joke now.
Hearts were in dreamland for 11 minutes but daunting Celtic Park task is not beyond them
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/latest-hearts-news/hearts-were-in-dreamland-for-11-minutes-but-daunting-celtic-park-task-is-not-beyond-them-8544123
Alan Pattullo
By Alan Pattullo
Chief Football Writer
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Published 13th May 2026, 23:10 BST
The Diggers erupts as Hearts go 2-0 up
How a night of emotion and drama unfolded at Tynecastle – with one eye on Fir Park
Winning the title at Tynecastle was the dream for Hearts but they can still do it in Paradise, 28 years to the day since they lifted the Scottish Cup amid memorable scenes at Celtic Park.
The possibility is a daunting if tantalising one, the ultimate one in the eye for one of two clubs forming the established order in Scotland. Avoid defeat against Celtic on Saturday and Derek McInnes’ side will register an achievement for the ages in one of the most partisan places in world football. A late, late penalty winner for Celtic at Fir Park was undeniably dismaying for the hosts, although they ought to have expected such an eventuality. Hearts’ margin for error was suddenly drastically reduced. They need a result in the east end of Glasgow.
There’s nothing in their make-up that suggests this is beyond them. One imagines their 800 or so fans will have as big a part to play as the players. That was certainly true here as the supporters relayed the message to their heroes after the final whistle that they believe in them. They will be waiting for them if and when they return home with the trophy on Saturday evening.
They won this final-before-the final as comfortably as any supporter had dared hope, overcoming some understandable early edginess to post a 3-0 win over Falkirk, with auxiliary defender Frankie Kent, the returning Cammy Devlin and Blair Spittal – a late season success story – the scorers.
For eleven or so delicious first-half minutes, Hearts not only saw the lights of home, they felt the warmth emanating from the open front door. How close it seemed, how close. They were winning and Celtic were losing, the title-winning combination so many were willing. A late equaliser for Motherwell revived hopes that Gorgie might see the party to end all parties on a midweek night but business owners who require a workforce will be grateful the Fir Park side could not force a late winner. Instead, Celtic did.
McInnes stressed he wasn’t interested in what was going on elsewhere but he knew he could not avoid knowing. The huge cheer that erupted after 16 minutes, greeting a goal 35 miles or so away, almost took the stand roofs off Tynecastle. The 5g bandwidth was proving up to the job of delivering vital information to the Gorgie area even if Hearts were struggling to connect with each other in those early stages. Nervy is an understatement.
Celtic being one down at Fir Park was all very well. Hearts still had to take care of their own business. It had been a struggle at first, but Kent’s header from an Alexandros Kyziridis corner helped soothe fevered brows after 29 minutes. The defender would not even have been playing if Craig Halkett had not been stretchered off against Motherwell in the previous game. The universe has a strange way of working. Maybe everything really is going to turn out alright.
The jerseys of both Halkett and Marc Leonard, who also suffered an Achilles injury in the same game, were held up by Kyziridis and Cammy Devlin near the home dugout as the players celebrated. Mawkish but forgivable in the circumstances.
A surfeit of emotion was not necessarily going to be helpful but Hearts rode the wave and scored again. What a moment for Devlin, who has been so unlucky with injury this season. The little Australian took advantage of a loose ball in the box after Lawrence Shankland had tried to feed Claudio Braga to force a deflected shot home after 32 minutes.
The pandemonium had only just died down after another huge cheer erupted around the ground, following what proved erroneous news of another home goal in Motherwell.
Devlin’s strike at least eased fears that Falkirk might mount a comeback and gave Hearts a base from which to start thinking about vastly improving their goal difference in the event that it might matter. It doesn’t now. Spittal scored a third, steering home from the edge of the box with four minutes left with Tynecastle already in ferment following news of a Motherwell equaliser.
The night was proving more dramatic than anybody had deemed possible. The early part of the game seemed a long way away. Alexander Schwolow was called upon to palm a couple of crosses away. Calvin Miller then broke free on the left and found the far corner after everybody else, including the Falkirk player, had seemed to hesitate, waiting for an offside flag. Miller then remembered his job was putting the ball in the net and letting VAR take care of the details. Closer than anyone thought, it turned out. Fine margins all the way. Next stop, Celtic Park.
Penalty pandemonium sets up Hearts & Celtic showdown for the ages
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/clyp717750eo
00:59
Figure caption,
A huge moment in the Scottish Premiership title race
By
Tom English
BBC Scotland’s chief sports writer
Published
7 hours ago
Even in the early minutes of a tumultuous night that saw Scottish football’s mad-o-meter blow up in smoke, there were scenes that suggested another extraordinary chapter in the Hearts versus Celtic title story was nigh.
Every time the cameras panned to sections of the Tynecastle crowd, somebody was in tears, somebody looked in pain, somebody was watching with their head in their hands.
For 12 glorious minutes during the first half, they were champions of Scotland and it all seemed too much. Winning 2-0 against Falkirk and with Celtic losing 1-0 at Motherwell, the perfect picture was forming in front of their eyes.
It became blurred, of course. Everybody knew it would, but it was still a brief glimpse of what-might-be, a tantalising vision of the future they’re all praying for.
We now have a denouement at Celtic Park on Saturday, a straight shootout between leaders Hearts and chasers Celtic. A win or a draw for Derek McInnes’ team and they are champions.
Forget everything you thought you knew about Scottish football at that point because everything will change if they manage to enter the cauldron in Glasgow’s east end and defy Martin O’Neill, his team and almost 60,000 supporters.
O’Neill is intending to leave Celtic soon – and there is no sign at all that he intends to leave quietly.
It makes no sense that Hearts are still atop the league table with 90 minutes of the season to go. It makes no sense that they have led for the longest time despite having finances that are a mere spit in a bucket compared to Celtic’s.
A seismic event, a footballing earthquake, is still possible for them – as is earth-shattering disappointment – but either way you know that the last day of the season is probably going to have some, all, or even more craziness and confusion and rancour as the penultimate night did on Wednesday.
For the people of Hearts and the folk belonging to Celtic, the whole evening was a walk on the wild side; epic, colosally controversial, thunder and lightning to the last whistle. Enough to wake the dead.
Fir Park, where Motherwell were hosting Celtic, was a drama unto itself. Motherwell might have had a penalty, then Celtic might have had one. Both were turned down and both looked like really poor calls.
Things twisted and turned. Celtic drew level through Daizen Maeda and now the gap at the top went from four points to three. Celtic would need a 3-0 win on Saturday to win the title on goal difference.
We looked up the stats. No team has beaten Hearts by three clear goals in the league this season. The last team to do it? Celtic. The team before that? Celtic. And the team before that? Celtic again.
When Benjamin Nygren put Celtic 2-1 up, the picture changed. Celtic only needed a win in their own place and they’d be champions again.
Few at Hearts could see the reality of what was going down in Lanarkshire, though. Motherwell were fighting back, knocking the ball around, playing their incisive passes, stretching Celtic, threatening their lead.
Five minutes to go and it was all Motherwell. A shot blocked, another shot saved, on the rebound – a goal. When the news hit Tynecastle it was as if Hearts themselves had scored.
As you were, then. Celtic would need to win by three clear goals again. Hearts, meanwhile, were making it 3-0 through Blair Spittal. Professional and clinical. Not a trace of the heat getting to them. Everything was coming up maroon.
Only, it wasn’t. The late penalty sparked pandemonium. The game deep in added time, Sam Nicholson of Motherwell, arm in the air and rising above Auston Trusty.
Then, the sight that would have sent a chill up the spine of every Hearts fan – referee John Beaton stopping dead in his tracks with his finger to his ear. VAR on the line.
As Beaton made his way back from the monitor and pointed to the spot with an astonishing amount of conviction given the scant evidence of an offence, a voice among the Motherwell fans was picked up on radio: “The game’s done,” it said.
The Scottish FA is probably going to bend over backwards to defend the call – handball when it looked to all the world that Nicholson had nutted it clear with his head – but it was given and it was converted and few could quite believe it.
That decision may yet have a profound impact on the destination of the title. We may not have heard the last of this. Future generations might mull this one over.
A shocked Motherwell manager, Jens Berthel Askou, said that in no other world would it have been given. It cost him league points and he was furious.
An enraged McInnes said it was a “disgusting” decision that left him feeling like “we’re up against everybody”. It could end up costing Hearts a whole lot more than it cost Motherwell.
Social media was ablaze. Gary Lineker was watching and he couldn’t fathom it. He was not alone.
That’s a second big call that’s gone against Hearts in a week. They were denied a penalty late on at Motherwell on Saturday; one point could have become three. McInnes said his team needed a siege mentality to deal with… well, he stopped short of spelling it out but you caught his drift.
In the aftermath, O’Neill spoke about the character of his players and their ability to dig themselves out of trouble, a trait that might be enough to see them retain their title. They’re not a compelling team, but they have spirit and motivation. Saturday could, and should be a classic.
McInnes tried to be measured but the dam burst a little when he spoke about the decisions he feels are going against his club. He was proud but irate.
“Am I missing something?” he asked when offering his views on why it shouldn’t have been a penalty for Celtic. The befuddlement on his face was clear.
Can Hearts win ’90-minute cup final’?
After 10 months of speculation about Hearts’ capacity to go the distance, we now have our answer. There’s been no implosion, as some fans of the big two from Glasgow predicted. They haven’t gone away, the pressure has not got to them.
After 37 games they remain the best team in the country.
The Hearts captain, Lawrence Shankland, might have been seething about the late events at Fir Park, but for the microphones he stayed focused on the big prize.
“It’s a 90-minute cup final,” he said, before reminding everyone that Hearts have already beaten Celtic home and away this season. “We’d have taken this situation at the start of the season. We’d have bitten your hand off for it.”
On a night of bewilderment, that was the unarguable truth. Hearts still have this in their own hands. Thirty-seven games have been negotiated with just one more to go. The toughest one against the hardest opponent in their own backyard.
It’s the one that could make them live forever in a footballing sense or the one that will make them join the Hearts boys of 1986 and 1965, denied on the final day. Heroes, almost.
Celtic will be waiting for them. Those Celtic fans will shake the ground under their feet. Somehow it was fitting that it came to this. A massive stage for a game of the greatest significance.
A Scottish FA statement
https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/news/a-scottish-fa-statement/?rid=13929
Barclays Hampden netting
Friday 15 May 2026
John Beaton and his family spent last night at home under police surveillance following a leak of personal details online.
The Scottish FA condemns in the strongest possible terms attempts to compromise the safety of match officials. Such vigilantism, motivated by decisions perceived to be right or wrong on a field of play, is a scourge on our national game and we are grateful to Police Scotland for their swift intervention.
We are also clear, sadly, that this is the inevitable consequence of the heightening criticism, intolerance and scapegoating demonstrated this season by media pundits, supporters, official supporters’ groups, clubs, players, managers and former match officials.
We do not make that point lightly as the national association. Yet it is an inconvenient truth. Those who have sought to apportion blame and conspiracy towards match officials to deflect from defeats or perceived injustices throughout the season have contributed to an environment that puts the safety of our staff and match officials in jeopardy.
This is the consequence of a hysterical media narrative, fuelled by irresponsible knee-jerk post-match media interviews, commentary and official social media posts. The cumulative effect impacts on our ability to provide enough referees to service our game at all levels. When it compromises the safety and wellbeing of our most senior match officials, enough is enough.
Referees are not infallible. Mistakes will be made on the field, and subjective calls made in front of the VAR monitor, just as managers will pick the wrong team, goalkeepers concede soft goals and strikers miss from five yards out. Yet the reaction to these inevitabilities could not be more contrasting.
What happened yesterday is not an isolated incident. There are many examples of match officials being placed in harmful situations but with individuals fearful of speaking out lest it exacerbates the situation or causes further alarm to friends, family and colleagues.
We will not allow this to become the norm. We will not allow a situation where match officials require special provision to protect their children at school to be considered an occupational hazard. We will not allow a situation where staying at home with the front door locked and avoiding the hazards of public interaction becomes a coping strategy.
The Scottish FA will be seeking to strengthen its rules to better protect those integral to the game and urge those who will doubtless join us in condemning incidents like this to support those proposals, not contribute to their watering-down on the basis of self-preservation.
As we approach what should be an exciting finale to the season, we ask those who have personalised and hyperbolised their opinions, those who have sought the easy way out by attributing defeats to perceived refereeing errors, and those who have approved incendiary statements and posts to reflect on their contribution to creating an environment of intimidation, fear and alarm.
We urge tolerance and perspective to prevent any further, unthinkable escalation.