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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As a very young boay, me and ma pals used to go once or twice during the summer holidays to Hogganfield Loch, having first negotiated the Sugarawlly Mountains (what became Cranhill).
Bloke109
No worries I’m basking in the knowledge that I even got to see the huddle:-)
Paddy Gallagher on 22 April, 2012 at 20:32 said:
Thanks Paddy. Did you play Gaelic in those days? Who for?
blantyretim
One of my memories from that day was the crush at the top of the stairs.I might be wrong but I think that was the first game in which the turnstiles had been moved from the bottom of the Hampden steps to the top.I remember people running thinking they were getting in for nothing because the exit gates were open,(must have been pay in).
HT
the huddle was in the 73rd minute…
BT
Ye and I made it on time :-))
Paddy Gallagher on 22 April, 2012 at 20:28 said:
———————————–
LOL!
lochgoilhead bhoy
Never played at all mate, but Father Sweeney was a great family friend and regular visitor in our family home. I have nothing but good memories of the man.
My cousin Brian was manager of Donegal for a long time,
Evening Bhoys
Anyone been to Budapest recently?? If so, how much is a beer in either Euro’s or Sterling?
Great result today.
Hail Hail
Roccobhoy
My earliest memories of watching Celtic go back to 1959 onwards. We used to hump and I mean hump Spanish,Dutch and Scandinavian teams regularly, I remember beating Go Ahead Deventer and Aarhus (from whom we signed Bent Martin) 8 and 9 nil! I rember us beating an Icelandic team 11-0. What has happened to turn that around in the meantime? Are we so much worse or are they so much better?
TGCW
can’t remenber much.. painkillers and alcohol…
Huns soon!
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CT_PBM57RUg
Well done the wee mhan today, one hell of a debut!
Paul – what is it you do to the blog to take away the scroll function from us Mac users?
Sometimes we can, sometimes we cannae…
nothing much has changed from 1985 to 2012..
before any of u say it… o))
BT
bassa ..was just on that :¬)))
Interesting to read Keevins sat in front of a hard core rankers fan at the last O F derby at £and and encountered a man primitive in his awfulness. He went on. He delivered 90 minutes worth of unabated,unrepeatable sectarian bile of the sort that must have made the normal people round him squirm in their seats. (doubt it hugh). Anyway Hugh, did you report him to the police? Make the stewards aware of him? Take his seat number so you can write to RFC? Best hurry Hugh last post 2morro. No you probably didnt but ill ask you 2morro when youre on the Hotline
Rangers fans think its all over
TBK take over, CVA in place, HMRC doing a deal
http://forum.rangersmedia.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=217616
I am hearing similar things
Was away all last week and have spent the odd 15 minutes here and there trying to catch up. (without Mrs TITO havin’ a go cos I‘m away again this week, and I should be spending our weekend on t‘internet). I obviously haven’t been able to read every post, but the CQN Oscars for me this week go to:
1. Bested Lead: Bizarre Fantasy Rant from Miller, after a penalty shoot-out with Greatest Fans in the World
1. Bestest Post: HT. I’m sure those of us who have lost our loved ones who brought Celtic to us have a similar post in heads, but that’s the easy bit.
2. Bestest Intention : BRTH – If you haven’t donated yet, please do.
3. Bestest Joke: Paddy G, parachute with no strings attached.
HH
PF o))
jude2005
Of course he didn’t report him journalists don’t report each other.
pintaguinness on 22 April, 2012 at 20:43 said:
I think the general standard at all levels have improved, but it’s more to do with the teams at the bottom of the pile having dragged themselves up in standard from those days. Even at international level you see teams like England, France, etc struggle to breakdown well organised Montenegro, Iceland, etc.
Eric
bt
Fr Sweeney Still does the disco’s. Gotta move Like Jaggur is his fav just now. Well it was at the New Year bash. Played it abt 20 times.
I don’t know whether to be annoyed or excited by Ledley…I rate him – no doubts. Today he showed flashes of greatness that make me excited – at te prospect we might see this ‘control’ more consistently next season. I get annoyed that some times he is in his shell.
Ledley like today every week would be amazing
TGCW 20 51
:)))))))
TBK have won the race …AHHAAA HAHAHAHAH
A RACE ,,,brilliant
tgcw
Good point. lol Dal keeps telling us Neil wd have be completely safe in the £and stand. FUDDDD!!!!
cults..Scott Brown wasnt in the team today..
now I don’t want to start a Broonie fight but……
Ki played better, Ledley played better…
keep Broonie oot wide…..
A week on from the ridiculous Craig Beattie eejitness, have a wee look at the way Dean Shiels celebrated scoring a penalty today away to his former club Hibernian. He turned and jogged back to half-way, eschewing the congratulations of his team-mates and gesturing to them with a ‘calm down’ motion. Last minute or not, scuffed penalty or not, he’s shown Beattie up. In that moment of tumult after scoring, where Beattie said you just lose it, and I know a penalty that could put Hibernian in relegation trouble, Shields had class, respect and grace. Beattie didnae. He’s at the right club.
They are like Bruce Willis in The Sixth Sense – they don’t realise they are dead
Well played young master Watt – great debut
Seems to be a good striker of the ball
Might be worthwhile sending him out on loan next season as often a young player does not progress if he is only getting odd minutes here and there
Players need to play – as the Polish lad showed
He hasn’t kicked a ball in earnest for 3 months and looked rusty
He should be given a run of games to prove himself – after all we know all about Hooper and Stokes
Thought Cha showed his worth today – not everyones cup of tea but does the business in the SPL – he works hard all day long and ran the guts out of Murderwell
Looking forward to the next few instalments of the pantomime across the city
Bill’s off or is he?
Bill Ng’s off or is he?
Paul Murray’s skint or is he?
Brian’s in or is he?
Duff and Duffer just cant get enough ….of the huns money!
HH
a flip i’ve still no seen that film o((
Anybody know where todays Celtic shirts with names in Thai will be auctioned?
Get yourself down to the State picture-house on the 12th July, ‘The walking dead’.
Wonkyradar, agree about Paddy. He was amazing today but Ledley ran past him a couple of times to get the ball back when Paddy could have been doing the same. I could see paddy driving lennie mad for not actively chasing the ball.When he did go fro it he was great but his natural disposition is to sit back.
divitbhoy
see official web page…
I think Brown was at his best last season when he was played wide right and was in tandem with Mark Wilson who was also playing well then. So the answer might be pair him with a good right back.
My mate goes to same gym as Norris. Confirmed he got pen wrong but won’t go public. Not prejudging Freemasonry but he wears a sod off Masonic ring too……sure someone will confirm he is season ticket holder at mordor and comes from larkhall, right?
Palacio67 on 22 April, 2012 at 20:26 said:
Molloy Malone’s is one of my favourite pubs on the planet.Nice pints,decent food & very reasonable prices.There is always a live band on Saturday nights.
Another Glasgow bar that I love is Waxy O’Connor’s at the top of George Street,it’s a wee bit more expensive,but that pub is something else.It could take at least ten minutes just to walk around it,and it would be easy to get lost…but i have never seen a place like it before.Last time me & my girl were there,we were lucky enough to get one of the window seats looking out on to George Street,we just spent hours sitting drinking & watching the world go by.
Love Glasgow,nothing but good memories of that crazy little city.