It was Roy of the Rovers stuff at Fir Park today at 18-year-old Tony Watt made his Celtic debut and scored the first two goals of the game within five minutes of getting onto the field.
Celtic have been notoriously slow to start games this season but were on the front foot from the off today as Pawel Brozek looked lively on his first start for the club. They should have earned a penalty kick on 4 minutes when Victor Wanyama was dragged to the ground as he latched onto the end of a Ki free kick.
Thereafter Celtic’s experimental line-up laboured for much of the game. Passing from midfield was profligate and the front pairing of Gary Hooper and Brozek was never a partnership.
After Wanyama’s penalty claim Motherwell enjoyed the bulk of the first half chances. Craig Highton headed on for Chris Humphrey who had an excellent volley saved by an equally spectacular save from Lukas Zaluska to keep the scores level. Humphrey then had a shot blocked by Thomas Rogne before the rebound was fired goal-ward by Steve Jennings to bring another fine save from Zaluska.
Wanyama started the game in an unaccustomed right back role but got forward on 34 minutes as he carried the ball 30 yards before threading a pass through to Brozek. The Polish striker spun inside the box and prodded a shot but he missed the target.
The final minute of the first half brought two chances for Celtic. Charlie Mulgrew did well to rescue a ball on the by-line before flighting a cross in which was knocked out to Kris Commons. Commons shot from 18 yards went narrowly wide. Seconds later Commons and Brozek combined before the Pole’s shot clipped Randolph on the ankle and trickled behind.
Motherwell were first to show in the second half when Nicky Law’s shot from the edge of the area was saved by Zaluska, who had a good afternoon. Joe Ledley then pinched the ball from the toe of Humphrey after the Motherwell winger cut inside Izaguirre on the wing and set himself up for a shot inside the box.
Paddy McCourt, who replaced injured Ki, split the Motherwell defence open with a fabulous pass for Cha but the right wing-back’s cross went straight to Randolph.
Celtic then brought on Tony Watt for the ineffective Brozek and the teenager made an immediate impact. Cha knocked-on a long ball for Victor Wanyama to run onto before crossing deep beyond the far post. Watt had an incredibly tight angle but somehow managed to steer his touch between the posts, leaving Randolph helpless.
Two minutes later Joe Ledley exploited space in front of the Motherwell defence before passing to Watt just inside the box. Tony steadied himself before firing low and hard into the far corner of the net.
Paddy McCourt was quiet on his return to the team after a lengthy lay-off but on 83 minutes he used the abundant space afforded to him outside the Motherwell box to hang a back-post cross for Cha, who headed high into the net to complete the scoring.
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what time does the formula 1 start
Árd Macha on 22 April, 2012 at 18:09 said
lazy journalism….. o))
BT
Name better?
Yir da disnae count ,unless he scored from a kickout.
Thought the ref (Reilly or O’Reilly not sure) had a fair and honest game.What a difference that makes.
WDH
finished
BT TA
VP
Celtic players, most of them have sold their souls…
not good enough to have their name on this site….
BT
G64 won the tote……we are getting a wee
bit embarrassed now:O(
VP
I’ll be down next month…O))
Whitecrook tim
May eddie Mcgrory R,I.P,
HAIL HAIL
I posted recently that what we needed was another Joe McBride. Maybe (I say maybe) young Watt will prove to be that. What our youngsters need above all is confidence. They have ability in abundance. If we have found ourselves a goalscorer, we have the makings of a right good team.
BT
Agree,but I did not mention Andy Wa*ker.
Great second half performance. Thought Paddy & of course young Watt made big difference when they came on. All in all I thought it could, and should have been a lot more. Great to see Izzy back. Thought Rogne was excellent, with Joe as overall MOTM. Pity Paul George picked up that injury…would like to see young Dylan get a chance in last five games ( just maybe no next week against the hatchet & hammer mob fae the sooside).
VP
touche…. o)
Bt
G64 and I (Catholic education)
taking next Monday off,you fancy a bevvy?
whitedoghunch on 22 April, 2012 at 18:10 said:
True to form he slipped away with no fuss,very sad.
Tony Tony Watt
Tony Watt
Tony Tony Watt
NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Hump the hun dogs next week then play the young yins, thats of course if their still in their kennel the dogs that is
VP
I am also off next Monday..
Watching old reruns of boxing classics on youtube: anyone remember a fight between Foreman & Ken Lyle? Something like six knockdowns in five wild & crazy slugfest rounds. 1977. A golden age of heavyweight boxing, with the idiosyncratic & colourful commentary of Howard Cosell. Watching Sugar Ray Robinson fight Rocky Graziano. Man that sugar ray was fast & insanely savage with both hands- the greatest pound for pound boxer of all time?
BT
There ye are,Vogue ,Sharkeys,Heilin Jessie
maybe go into Bar 67 to wake up HT,sorted.
I particularly enjoyed the camera views of Lenny today. It was impossible to get an angle on him without our two seasoned, rugged bouncers Mr Bankier and Mr Lawell crowding out the shot.
Wee bit help please: anybody have Tony Watt 1st goalscorer? Although not on the screen PP saying they are paying out at 9/2!
Can’t be right – getting nowhere with their customer service.
Checking their web page now.
VP
maybe on Sunday…
Liverpool had 28 shots at goal today with 12 on target and 0 goals.
Carroll and Suarez? An expensive partnership with a poor return on investment.
Phenomenal debut from Tony Watt. But, please, let’s all do him a favor and refrain from piling too much pressure on his broad but extremely young shoulders.
I very much enjoyed seeing him earlier in the season at a NexGen game and thought he did very well. Dylan McGeouch gave him an absolute earful that night for holding onto the ball too long and not being aware enough of what his team-mates were doing left and right of him. And Dylan was correct.
Good luck to him and all our young Hoops.
Celtic First,
Did you get my comment on Friday night about my comimg to Chester in May or early June to visit Fr. Francis?
Martin42
P67
i think CFC were playing 3 at the back with wing backs
VW was right of a back 3
Good evening all.
A very pleasing final 30 minutes today sets us up nicely for next week’s title decider. We’re now 18 ahead with 4 to play; win next Sunday – 21 ahead with 3 to go – and the 10 points deduction doesn’t matter.
anyexcuseforanotherpartyCSC
Tony Watt scored home and away against Barca in the NextGen series and now a double on his debut. Well done young mhan.
It’s great to see the youngsters getting a chance and he’s getting brilliant messages on twitter from several first team players, shows great camaraderie. Big Hooieveld even sent best wishes.
Good luck to the U’19’s tomorrow night.
Poster on Huddleboard saying Tuesday is L-day.
From a business journo, apparently…
PF
agree…I meantioned that today as I was watching it on TV…
Paddy and Tony Watt transformed the mundane.
Ad rather see Paddy in the team ahead of Chris Commons who ad send tae a health farm.
Chris Commons is a good player let down by his physical condition ,ther is no mystery to why he hasnt scored in the last 30.
Paddy wid be in the nos 10 role for me,vision and the weight of pass.
Martin 42
Yes, thanks. I answered tardily on Saturday morning. Just keep us posted. It would be great to see you.
Terry O
opinions eh..
I’d rather have Commons in my team that Hooper…
Davie Moyes, whom I like, giving it to the officials with double barrels on 5Live. And no criticism from the media; may’be it’s because the ginger hair is grey now!
Talking of bigging up young Tony what about Brown saying Cammy Smith is the Aberdonian Bergkamp? McNeil. Fulton. Baggio…comes to my mind.
roy croppie
Fergiebully was a disgrace before half time, but he isn’t a catholic who played for Celtic…
Lomas yeaterday was a jack in the box but he isnt a catholic who played for Celtic…