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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484 Comments- Pages:
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blantyretim
my thoughts exactly.
Celtic First,
Busy all day Saturday, but will let you know if it hopefully comes to pass. He is forever giving Retreats and can be away for between 7 and 14 days at a time. therefore we have problems getting our act together re holidays.
Martin42
ItaliaBhoy on 22 April, 2012 at 18:38 said:
Don’t put your holiday pay on Tuesday or any other day being L Day.
roy croppie..cheers I though I had a rant to far then…. o))
anyway Henke on C5 now… magnificent7…
quonno on 22 April, 2012 at 18:48:
You don’t think they will be liquidated?
Despite my belief that it won’t happen I would love to see liquidation. This only to watch a variety of people tying themselves in knots to justify their reaction to it.
Steinreignedsupreme on 22 April, 2012 at 18:52 said:
I don’t, and never have thought it would happen. That does not mean that I don’t want it to happen. It is simply what I honestly believe.
Passion, hunger and desire from a Celtic forward !!! What an innovation.
Evening to you all, just watched the game which I had recorded and must say I am a happy bhoy :-)
quonno on 22 April, 2012 at 18:53
They are nothing, if not predictable.
blantyretim 18.43 aye on current form Hooper doesnt merit a gemme.
Still 22 goals against nae goals swings it fur me.
Ah think Commons is too heavy,dont know if he’s bulked up because of weight training or eating but whatever the reason he isnt sharp enough.
Went right aff im.
Thought Ledley played well today an am not his biggest fan either.
That`s a bit better tonight. I was on a downer last night as all my footy scores had gone the wrong way over the previous week. I was saying how much I beleived in karma and was a glass half empty guy.
Now today , Hoops win well, new young hero in place,my own boys win again and Citeh keep old jakey face in a bad mood for a bit longer.
I have only seen the goals from today so I will not and cannot pass comment on the performance, but WTF we won and won well.
Now I am all of a sudden looking forward to the weeks football, this weeks dream treble , is Barca, Bayern and The Hoops, our own oys loook like not having a fixture.
Looks like Mrs McC has heart set on 90 minutes of The Voice, shame.
BTW , I still do not see L for you know who.
martin42 on 22 April, 2012 at 18:36
have dinner here Celtic -first I believe has been or perhaps twists and turns.Overlooks the race course:
http://www.michaelcaines.com/restaurants/chester
Michael is well worth meeting.The head chef in this kitchen is a scottish boy.
This made me smile aswell from a RTC poster :)))
Billy Liar and the Sniff Tests says:
22/04/2012 at 6:50 pm
0 0 i
Rate This
resinlabdog says:
22/04/2012 at 6:21 pm
Thank You – I did laugh, sorry.
I laughed even more when I saw ‘Paperless statements’ &”fraud protection”
https://apply.mbna.co.uk/UKNeoCCapp/entry?sc=82ranggs_ost
Terry O..
I am a big fan of ledley… Ha ha..
what is an opinion if it is the same… O)
more power to you sir…
KTF
I heard Commons did too much weight training last summer.., me it was too much heavy and guinness…
ItaliaBhoy on 22 April, 2012 at 18:38 said:
”Poster on Huddleboard saying Tuesday is L-day.
From a business journo, apparently…”
Huddleboard posters getting inside track info from business journalists (of whom there must be how many in Scotland? 6,7,8?) ?
I suppose Tuesday’s as good a guess as any.
D&P don’t get the £500,000 exclusivety fee on Monday and run out of cash by Tuesday. At least there’s some logic to it.
And I suppose pulling the plug in the week before the Glasgow Derby would be one way to make the point about how much Scottish football needs the huns in the SPL.
roy croppie on 22 April, 2012 at 18:38 said:
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.
***
Was at the home Barca game, his goal was a cracker.
I think both Commons and Izaguirre will enjoy a summer off and come back strongly after good pre-seasons.
leftclicktic on 22 April, 2012 at 19:00 said:
Is that a noise up???
I noticed their apr is 16.9%…..bigoted in everything they do.
iBhoy
great to see him get a chance and grab it. That was some goal v Barca.
quonno on 22 April, 2012 at 18:56:
I don’t see how they can avoid it to be honest.
And given the Huns have gone from denying there was any tax bill in the first place to discussing openly liquidation fills me with confidence it will happen.
This week is as good as any…
Can’t believe the pelters Hooper is getting on here. Where would we be without his goals this season? Faithfull through and through?
Terry O 1841
I agree with you Terry.
Some may say that Paddy is a luxury, but for me he rarely wastes a pass and Cha should have had two goals courtesy of Paddy today.
I for one would love to see him play a key role in the run in with a view to something more substantial next season.
He has vision and ability that others picked before him can only dream of.
‘openly discussing’ even…
The Battered Bunnet @ 17:37 – a great synopsis of why we should be excited for the future.
Agent Craig Whyte @ 17:55 – agreed, you are not akone! Plus I have Dundee Utd to finish 3rd at 13/2!
Agent Craig “Green and” Whyte!! on 22 April, 2012 at 19:04 said:
Steinreignedsupreme on 22 April, 2012 at 19:04 said:
16.9%. don’t know about noise up it’s certainly a bit of a rip off.
I hope you are tight about liquidation.
Well what a debut for young Tony Watt he clearly has an eye for goal and I was really impressed with his application.
Joe Ledley take a bow son the best centre midfield performance of the season.
Bring on the rangers!
we had a laugh today in the pub. Paddy gets his first touch and my mate says next thing the ball will be in the net…
flipping heck he was it was nearly in oor net….. o))
mhaddog chill…. o)
blantyretim on 22 April, 2012 at 19:01 said:
Wan ae the guys ah drink wae has Joe as his player of the year,ah seem tae hiv blind spots when it comes tae certain players.
Joe puts in too many anoymous displays fur ma likeing but today he caught ma eye,thought he wis a worthy m.o.m.
We have a good base of young players,hope we strengthen at centre back an centre forward.
Centre half has been the consistant position we have failed to fill with the required quality.
Keep well.
Paddy played well today ..a very effective player on form
off form completely ineffective
imo you never get a mediocre performance from Paddy
either very good or awful
hamiltontim
cheers for the tix today
great day out ..G thought it was great too
HH
Ledley and Wanyama were immense today, Zaluska, Mulgrew and Rogne also played very well. Commons started well then faded, likewise Ki started well until his injury.
Brozek won’t get a contract, not good enough and certainly not better or a different option from what we already have.
Cha (despite his goal) shouldn’t get a contract, not good enough.
Izzy looks a shadow of the player he was last season.
Stokes for Hooper next week against them, two out of form strikers but Stokesy’s turn next to try to turn it around.
Dream debut for Tony Watt. Get rid of the deadwood, about 12-15 players, and give the bhoys a chance.
hamiltontim on 22 April, 2012 at 19:08 said:
Agree about JL.
I said to a hun in work back around Oct/Nov I felt we were starting to see how JL is a box to box midfielder, throw in his goals and we have the complete package.
Although I feel he should be scoring a few more in this league.
Most weeks JL puts in a 7 or 8 preformance, if JL has a poor game its seems to affect the team as a whole.
He may not be a Maestro but could be a Collins type player for us for the next few years.
One of the 1st picks for me every week.
Pfayr
You’re welcome mate just give me a shout if you’re looking in future.
Glad the bhoy enjoyed it I’ll maybe see him at Pittodrie in the near future!!
BT I’m perfectly chilled, just think we should acknowledge the guys who have won us the league and Hoops is definitely one of them!
….PFayr on 22 April, 2012 at 19:13 said:
The wife has said she agrees with you 100%
You now join a very exculsive club of…… 2.
The only time she has ever agreed with me was when we said…I do ;)
HT
Aberdeen will be a definate for next season
keep us in mind
Agent Craig
Still can’t decide between Ledley and Mulgrew for my player of the year but I completely agree Joe is fast becoming a must pick. I hope that continues even when everyone is fit.