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.
Buy a hard copy of CQN Magazine, issue 7, by clicking on the button below. You can read online here.
484 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- »
Paul67
celticquicknews@gmail.com
Never thought O’Neill had an appreciation of the more cultured type of player- think we were lucky to have a bit of flare at the club when he arrived in the shape of Lubo, Larsson, Stan & Petta. Never thought Martin liked Lubo, but at times he was impossible to keep out the team. Petta was soon shipped out the club after a good season. Personally I always thought Berkovic was a fantastic “lockpicker” type player who got a raw deal at Paradise & whose days were numbered when Martin arrived. Not big. Not strong. Not a real hard worker. Sometimes I think Lenny has inherited some of his mentors traits. I do think he appreciates the “Celtic Way” a lot more than Martin ever did, I still think he is overly cautious at times & still lacks faith in the more cultured players like Paddy. I do think Paddy will suffer the same fate as Berkovic and will be playing elsewhere next season. But then maybe I’m completely wrong.
Thanks Blantyre
999,999 pounds shy of being a millionnaire!
Pinta
ScotPatsFan on 22 April, 2012 at 20:01 said:
Fr Sweeney,of course learnt his stuff in Ruglen,so ,he should know everything.
FF look as if they are preparing themselves for the L word tomorrow. And it’s not pretty (as you would expect).
BBM – Got a certain ring to it :-))
T4
hoped that had slipped under the radar…. o))
P G
I worked on the boats up at the Hogganfield. One day when I was shouting the boats in and called boat number 91 in a few times. Guy said we dont have a number 91 boat. So I shouted are you in trouble 16?
BT
you are priceless
jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on 22 April, 2012 at 20:17 said:
:-)))))
Thanks Blantyre and Agent Craig
Hoping to sen Paul I jersey I have signed by Henrik so he can auction it for some good. My companies HQ is in Scandinavia and know I am a big Henrik fan. they also sponsor a hockey club he is associated with. When Henrik visited they got him to sign a jersey for me A Man Utd one !! Thought that counts
HalffullPinta
Bloke109
You’re most welcome and to top it off I was even on time. In fairness though that was more down to Pfayr than me :-)
Philbhoy
Thanks for your kind words mate, much appreciated.
Jude 2005
Hogganfield Loch!
Now that brings back memories.
I once did a sponsored walk 20 times round the loch.
Also got my first hole in one at the pitch and putt there.
Got caught by the polis on the island looking for birds eggs.
Played my second round of golf there too.
Aye, they were the days.
Hamiltontim
Nice meeting you at the end of the game, kudos to yer post this morning!
I meant to ask you but someone sent a text to me saying MWD got aff wae Madonna in the 80’s and that their brief acquaintance got Maddy up the duff.
Is this true?
voguepunter
I remember seeing Fr Sweeney batter 6 neds from C/milk who tried to ruin the St Marks fete one year.
He was some man.
Paul67
So these 2 liars who conspired to get Neil sent off are getting away with it? These 2 should be booted out of football for ever!!! Im very disappointed that Celtic Football Club are accepting this.
Smashinmilkbottles
I think they had a son, Declan, i think.
:0)
1985 cup finil v D Utd..
we had a wee night in Blantyre Celtic club after it..
Fr Sweeney did the irish disco, well him and his black lab…
looking for a bit of help bhoys. Taking the wife up to Glasgow on Saturday for a few drinks/meal etc. Not been up in the big smoke for over 15 years as the wife works every Saturday. Anyway used to go to Molly Malones and they used to have live music on occasionally. Looking for suggestions which bars to go to, close to the Central station where there is live music/karaoke or just general good pubs.
Is the Horseshoe still any good?
Thanks in advance
HH
hamiltontim
You were on time??
Bloke 109
In all the years I’ve known him,I have never,ever,ever heard those words used in connection with anything hamiltontim has done.
I knew a Glasgow taxi driver who lived in Ruccazie (J.A) .
In the middle of the night he got a call to pick up an American tourist from the Albany hotel, who on a whim had decided he couldn’t travel home the next day without seeing Loch Lomond. A fixed price was agreed and the bold one went to the hotel and picked up one very drunk American who fell in the Taxi and went to sleep on the back seat.
Big J took the man on his journey, woke him up whereupon he told J that the view was fantastic and went straight back to sleep, he was returned to his hotel a very happy man.
Aye Hogganfield Loch is indeed a beautiful place. :-))
Smashie
I wouldn’t like to say but…..yes it is true. I believe the offspring of this tryst answers to the name….Kojo!!
Good to see you too mate and without a limp I noticed!
Philbhoy – It’s just the beginning! on 22 April, 2012 at 20:25 said:
Ahhh, Declan……it all makes sense noo!
MWD is a mysterious man!
What a dream debut for a young man, they don’t come much better than that. His family must be chuffed to bits.
Thought the game started well, then dropped like my stomach when my brother’s driving. Tony was a breath of fresh air. Agree that he shouldn’t be over-hyped, as he’ll get other opportunities and won’t reach these dizzy heights. Consistency is very rare when you’re 18.
My son told me that, I can’t remember being 18.
Joe was, by far, mom for me – likes to drive with the ball and, when he sees an opportunity, releases the ball nice n early.
We now need to clear out fringe players, trim the squad, focus on our current crop, some youth players coming through, and addition of 1 or 2 players of Euro quality.
It’s easy this management gemme.
GreeninBingley
Aye, Cuppin St is the place. Fr Francis probably was there then. We arrived in 1999 and he was definitely part of the furniture then. He’s moved on now. The parish priest is a young Polish priest. My youngest refers to him as “the coolest monk in the universe” because he gives all children a high-five on the way out.
blantyretim
1985 cup final.I still have the jersey with,”100th cup final” on it.Cost me £17 from Astral Sports(Fraser’s).
ScotPatsFan on 22 April, 2012 at 20:01 said:
Would that be Fr Eamon Sweeney, the gaelic football player? I think he was with Beltane Shamrocks? A hard player.
McCourt is an enigma. One game, brilliant; next outing, awful. There seem to be no middle way with him. Yet, on his game, like today, a class apart. I would keep him and play him in Europe. (Mind you, if Kris Commons can get himself back to last season’s form,I would also keep him.)
Palacio67 on 22 April, 2012 at 20:26
Horseshoe still going strong, eight nights a week according to the sign on the door. :-) A wee tip is to get in early and have a meal/snack as it saves you having to wait in the Que.
Palacio
la lanterna for good italian and alpin lodge or 67(?)/ 56 hope st for singsong, all on Hope St… not irish music though.. just a Glasgow Saturday…
lochgoilhead bhoy
That is the very man bud :-)
Hamiltontim
Aye, nae limp….well at least no’ until I come oot the boozer….
glasgowcelticway
Let me qualify it – he wasn’t so much on time as there was enough time before kick-off. Sorry hamiltontim :-)
TGCW
I had a broken leg and crutchies.. mad day…
To keep it simple
You can be an Oldco and owe HMRC millions
or
You can be a Newco and NOT owe HMRC millions.
What you cannot be is an Oldco that does not owe HMRC millions.
I do wish all of them would make up both their minds.
Last time I was in Glasgow me and wife and friends went into a place called “Madness” and had a great time,.Barmaids dancing on bar and rush to buy rounds !!
Tony Watt had one thing about him that neither Hooper nor Brozek had much of, especially in the first half. Movement. And not just that, movement into the right areas, at the right time.
Anyone know why Hooper was captain with Mulgrew playing?
auldheid
asked you earlier, maybe you missed i..o))
did you say that as a joke about how much money we just saved there?