Paddy McCourt was the difference between the teams today as Celtic came from behind for the second time in three days to beat Motherwell at Celtic Park, securing second spot in the league. Craig Higdon opened the scoring for Motherwell after 11 minutes with a header from a corner kick but Anthony Stokes levelled, also from a corner, two minutes later. Substitute Gary Hooper scored the winner late on.
Despite a sprightly first minute Celtic were on the back foot for most of the opening period and it was no surprise Motherwell opened the scoring. Nor was the manner in which they lost the goal a surprise. Tom Hately crossed from a short corner which Celtic slept at, failing to mark-up. The defence also pushed out in instalments, leaving Craig Higdon free six yards from goal to head home.
Celtic immediately pushed forward and Georgios Samaras flicked a Kris Commons header onto Stokes at the back post, who volleyed into the net.
A Commons free kick was blocked by Samaras, whose shot was saved. Thomas Rogne headed a Commons’ corner on target but the ball was blocked on the line. On the half hour mark Higdon drew a good save from Fraser Forster.
Four minutes into the second half Stokes should have given Celtic the lead when he latched onto a long ball from Daniel Majstorovic which evaded the defence but Darren Randolph closed the space. On 54 minutes the lively Stokes cut-back for Commons who took one touch too many and was robbed. Fraser Forster was called into action again soon thereafter when he blocked a Nicky Law effort.
Paddy McCourt replaced Samaras with 15 minutes to go and transformed the game. On 79 minutes he collected the ball inside his own half, drifted through a nervous looking Motherwell midfield until he reached the edge of the D before feeding Stokes on the left. Stokes made space before rifling the ball into the six yard box for Gary Hooper to score the winner.
Tim Clancy was shown a straight red card late on for kicking Gary Hooper. If referee Charlie Richmond had taken an earlier opportunity to control Lasley or Jennings, Gary Hooper, James Forrest and Beram Kayal would perhaps have finished the game with fewer injuries.
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Árd Macha says:
6 November, 2011 at 16:38
thomthethim,
Great posting.
Worried that you may be right about our continued participation in this league.
Quote of the day from me on twitter from the Human Torpedo:
“Jennings & Lasley now walking a tightrope. Both are now only another dozen career ending fouls away from a second yellow…”
Árd Macha
share
Unless it gets cleaned up, there is no league. The genie is out the bottle, the game’s a bogey, the ba’s burst, the ba’s up the slates, or any other colloquial definition of ” the feckin’ fecker’s fecked!”
Apologies to all who spotted the substitute vowel.
I was universally acclaimed in Sharkey’s (the real one) today.
Thursday and today were my first visits there for a month, which coincided with two great results, following poor ones in my absence.
I must have inherited part of that lucky gene you possess when in these parts.
Margaret McGill says:
6 November, 2011 at 17:02
Right! I’m away from CQN for 1 hour and sumbdy called me a hun..who wizzit?
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2010 Never Again
No tellin!
Still haven’t calmed down…….bigots, all of them……but we are UNBOWED…
ASonOfDan says:
6 November, 2011 at 17:03
Just wondering why we have not had the usual hysteria, moral outrage and minutes silence this weekend…
– – – – – – – –
Good Question. Anyone?
Who is the greatest British manager of all time? vote here
It was me mags.
UnstrungGuitarCSC
Many rivers to cross indeed!! a great song, just put me in the mood for some jimmy cliff.
90th minute Craigan decks McCourt and complains to the MIB.
I trust Celtic will a formal complaint to the SFA and Spl about Richmond, for his shameful refereeing, and Motherwell for their utter cynicism.
Gordon64 says:
6 November, 2011 at 17:06
Today’s refereeing performance was no isolated incident
but part of a much deeper systemic problem going
back decades.
I know i’m preaching to the choir but still needs to be said.
_________________________________________________________
Then why no mention before,big mhan.
Don’t get angry get even.
Big Packie’s Accent says:
6 November, 2011 at 17:09
ASonOfDan says:
6 November, 2011 at 17:03
Just wondering why we have not had the usual hysteria, moral outrage and minutes silence this weekend…
– – – – – – – –
Good Question. Anyone?
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2010 Never Again
We donated 10,000 quid instead.
Ceaser67 (great name)
Cheers
MICK11 says:
6 November, 2011 at 17:10
Many rivers to cross indeed!! a great song, just put me in the mood for some jimmy cliff.
UB40 version was much better though.
Oh, by the bye, many many congratulations to our manager and team for their win today and their behaviour.
WDH
Vote duly cast!
Just back from Fir Park. Delighted with three points given the circumstances and credit to the team for rising above the violence, treachery and scumbaggery that was deployed with impunity by Mccall`s minions.
Motherwell`s violent and cynical performance today ranks down there with:-
Racing Club 1967
Estudiantes 1968
Chile 1962
Atletico Madrid 1974
Uruguay 1986
It was a strange mixture of running, cage fighting, mortal kombat and WWF wrestling that Motherwell displayed. The ball was very much an afterthought for them. A repulsive team made in the image of their talentless troglydyte management team. I hope they go into freefall and get relegated.
The referee was abysmal and his leniency served only to encourage Motherwell to explore further depths of depraved violence and hacking.
Lasley and Jennings fouled with a frequency and relish that suggested only two possible explanations:-
1. They knew that no matter what they did, they would not be sent off;
2. For some reason they actually wanted sent off.
I suspect the first explanation is more plausible.
Of course, the converse of all this was that Celtic players were cautioned for tackles that did not even warrant a talking to when perpetrated by a Claret and Amber basket case. In one case a Celtic player – Anthony Stokes – was actually booked for being fouled by a Motherwell player when trying to run in on goal.
I salute the Celtic players for keeping their heads under such provocation from both the Motherwell players and Richmond. Playing in Scotland, it is not exceptional to witness what can politely be termed as “eccentric” refereeing displays; Charlie Richmond`s performance stands apart even in Scotland. I would be very interested to have sight of the refereeing supervisor`s report into his performance today….an FoI request might be in order, perhaps.
whitedoghunch
I notice there are no Rangers managers on that list.
I wonder why.
Hee hee
Jobo, 16.38
Totally agree :-)
SFFS
If you were a Motherwell supporter would you not question your manager as to why your team kick and fight their way through a Celtic game, yet roll over to get their tummies tickled against the huns?
Or is that what you want them to do?
THE EXILED TIM says:
6 November, 2011 at 16:49
ttt
I think the hun getting preferential treatment will be what our board are hoping for.
share
I hope so, although a “clean” game may be an acceptable consolation prize, doubtful as it may be.
whitedoghunch says:
6 November, 2011 at 17:09
Think a lot of huns voting for alex due to the good time
they had in Manchester.
From Sky:
….Celtic are weighing up a move for former Liverpool and Chelsea midfielder Boudewijn Zenden after taking him on trial.
Zenden, who is available on a free transfer after leaving Sunderland at the end of last season, linked up with Celtic for training over the weekend.
Celtic boss Neil Lennon and his coaching team will cast an eye over the 35-year-old over the coming days before deciding whether or not to offer him a short-term deal.
Lennon is keen to bolster his squad after seeing his options ravaged by injuries in recent weeks and if Zenden impresses the former Holland international could win a deal at Parkhead.
“Bolo came in a couple of days ago and he trained yesterday,” said Celtic coach Alan Thompson after Sunday’s 2-1 win at Motherwell.
“He’s a free agent with an unbelievable cv. He wants to come, so we’ll have a look and see what we can do.”
Sometimes you watch a game and wonder if there’s been some kind of unofficial contact between the ref and Celtic’s opponents. M’well seemed very confident that dangerous tackles would go unpunished. And they were right to be confident.
whitedoghunch says:
6 November, 2011 at 17:09
i assume that’s a poll for the 2nd best manager ever? the king of anti football is surely no.1
Good early morning from a damp Malaysia.
I have been calling for NLs departure for last few weeks and my argument is less convincing now. Good to here positive talk of fitness from AL – as Dale Carnegie said – ‘give people reputations to live up to’.
Was there any significance on AL doing post match conference?
lazydynamite says:
6 November, 2011 at 15:16
Geez peace go and support some other team when you hate a celtic player,you need help.
TTT @ 16.08’ish
BK played his game in the second half.
VW did his stuff but it was all a bit limited / tight.
There was no-one to spread the play.
The CBs did not help by pushing on when they brought the ball out.
We got better in the 2nd half because they ran out of steam and PMcC added some legs.
In the 1st half they had an extra guy in there and they pushed on to put pressure on our FBs.
I would have loved to see LNG in instead of kC.
He sits with VW and let’s BK do the SB headless chicken role putting them under pressure further up the pitch.
Finally AS played well for half the time.
The other half was very self indulgent to me.
He needs more focus in his game.
He has the talent but his attitude needs work.
He is probably HL circa 94/95.
I have only seen a few snippets of the game. Why was Lasley not sent off.
I voted for Stein there,not because of bias – if you ask me i would say that Ferguson was the most successful of all time,but John Stein is without doubt the greatest manager of them all.
Why?
Resources,that’s why.Ferguson has spent at least half a billion during his reign,Stein spent little or nothing.
Home grown talent,challenging for the Big Cup,year in,year out.
That puts it all into perspective.
Erm mean AT and hear – too much Tiger beer :-)
fritzsong says:
6 November, 2011 at 17:15
Sometimes you watch a game and wonder if there’s been some kind of unofficial contact between the ref and Celtic’s opponents. M’well seemed very confident that dangerous tackles would go unpunished. And they were right to be confident.
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2010 Never Again
Ask yourself what is the bond that holds them all together. A wee clue. It’s a bit crafty.
BelfastCityCelt says:
6 November, 2011 at 17:19
Well said that Mhan.
Estadio
Shocking story! I was talking to Oldtim last night, while following the racing from Kentucky, and he was telling me a similar story from Thursday night. Two “supporters” abusing Sammi before a ball had even been kicked. And yet the big man went on to have a terrific game. We all have our favourite players, but to wish injury, or worse, on one of our own is beyond belief, and from this particular perspective totally unacceptable.
Mr X says:
6 November, 2011 at 17:15
Zenden will be a far better signing than James McFadden would have been.
Let us not forget – Sunderland offered him a knew contract,he was not released.Zenden chose to leave that club in order to further his playing career.
the glorious balance sheet says:
6 November, 2011 at 17:13
I’ve been thinking about precisely the same thing especially the stuff they meted out to James Forrest today.
Memory may be failing but when watching Jinky in the old days although he got the same sort of stuff usually Tommy Gemmell sorted out the perpetrator.
Although I realise you can’t be quite so blatant these days I can’t help thinking we’re missing an enforcer.
googybhoy says:
6 November, 2011 at 17:19
I have only seen a few snippets of the game. Why was Lasley not sent off.
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2010 Never Again
Please tell me that’s a rhetorical question <:-))
Big big result for us today , dare i say it but saw some fire in the bellies.
Kayal , big dan , stokes the main men for me .
Forrest was clattered twice early on and never really got going.
The refereeing was appalling , absolutely beggars belief but we knew that anyway,we did not allow ourselves to be victims.
Well done the hoops
MadMitch says:
6 November, 2011 at 17:18
What??
Who is LNG?
I’m afraid my Enigma Code Breaker is in the garage for repair.
My main point was that our midfield choices were severely limited. Therefore normal analysis of tactics is moot.
We don’t need a poll
to know who is the greatest football manager
of all time.
In the words of the great Bill Shankly
‘John you are immortal’