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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ICT Dunfermline and St Mirren to come. Someone very wise (can’t remember who) blogged recently ‘don’t give me any turning the corner pash’ and they’re right but something significant has happened this week, Lennie’s had options and he’s used them. Commons today showed some flashes of his old self, though he looked shattered when he came off. Sammi was on for an off form Hooper put in a good display and Hooper comes on to score. Of course there was Paddy with that shoulder drop ! If he still has those options to keep the players hungry we can win those matches.
BBC2 10pm
Sportscene
Eyes Wide Open says:
6 November, 2011 at 21:36
Lennons Passion
Henr1k
Would either of yous keep Hooper on the bench for our next game?
LoL, honestly m8 he’s wrong in this instance and i will prove it when i speak to paul67 through email..
He seems to think i have all the answers i don’t no one on here does and if we did we wouldn’t be discussing it on here but we all have opinions and some will agree and some won’t I’m afraid…
Back to Basics – Glass Half Full says:
6 November, 2011 at 21:42
February M’well win 2-0, …………..Lasley & Jennings booked
April, M’well lose 0-5 ………………..Lasley & Jennings not booked
August, M’well lose 0-3 ……………. Lasley & Jennings not booked
November M’well lose 1-2 …………..Lasley & Jennings booked
Do you think that this was an accumulator for Mr Rooney Snr ?
Friday, Saturday or Sunday are good for me, hard to deal with :-)
THE EXILED TIM says:
6 November, 2011 at 21:43
Walking away is out of the question sir.
Belfast Celtic did that and their old stadium is now a shopping centre.
Stade Rennais FC drew 1-1 at hame the day against 16th in the table
PSG currently 1-1 final few mins
http://www.ligue1.com/
DYLAN McGEOUGH may have never played a senior competitive football game, but the 18-year-old Celtic midfielder has already made history.
McGeough, who will be a key figure for his club’s under-19s as they continue their NextGen series with a Celtic Park encounter against Manchester City tomorrow night, rejoined Celtic last summer. After three years with Rangers. No player in the modern age has ever crossed the Glasgow divide and back again with no break in between. Indeed, Tom Dunbar in the 1890s is listed as the only player who has ever done so. Kenny Miller might have played for Rangers, then later Celtic, then Rangers but sandwiching his swaps of blue and green were spells with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Derby County.
“It is great for myself. I must be doing something right,” McGeough says. His family were pivotal in both switches, with his Celtic career seeming to sour first-time around because of the club’s treatment of his elder brother Darren, now at Morton. “He wasn’t too settled at the time and wanted to move on,” the Milton youngster says. “I was a bit younger so my mum thought it was better that I left as well. We did it together as a family. The next best place really for my development was Rangers so that is where we decided to go. It was a big decision to come back but it was one we made as a family and I made myself. I don’t have a bad word to say about Rangers, I enjoyed my time there, but it is great to be back here.”
Since he recovered from an earlier injury at the start of his second spell, McGeough has been training with the first team and showing up well for the under-19s – not least when they beat Manchester City 4-2 away in their last NextGen outing. The fine showing by 17-year-old Marcus Fraser in the midweek win for Neil Lennon’s side over Rennes after replacing the injured Glenn Loovens in the Europa League tie was testament to the quality of the Celtic youth set-up and McGeough is expected to be one of the next teenage prospects to make the step up. That could easily have happened by now, indeed.
“I have been in the squad for most of the games and was on the bench for the Aberdeen game [two weeks ago],” McGeough says. “I thought maybe if we had got a couple of goals up the manager might have put me on, but I need to keep doing well and then it is up to him. It is great to be back here and playing, and being involved with the first team every day. And it is a great experience when you play against teams like Man City, it is a step up. When you come back to play against Scottish teams you find you have a bit more experience. Having beaten them 4-2, we are obviously confident, but we learned a lot of things from them as well. I am sure they learned a lot of things from us.” McGeough has been learning his football trade in a manner unlike any before him.
Scotsman 06/11/11.
Paddy Gallagher says:
6 November, 2011 at 21:48
Maybe try n sort a pint or 2 on Friday if i can
HH
Bundoran Bhoy says:
6 November, 2011 at 21:44
PaddyG
Doing well my good friend, what night are you n CRC etc going out?
I cant make the Saturday as have previous commitment
*********************************************
Friday, Saturday or Sunday are good for me, hard to deal with :-)
hen1rik
I know we exchanged comments the other night but I have no clear recollection of what they were.
Don’t think I fell out with anyone. It’s been a while since I did.
Might have heard that a school from the Northish side of the city are not too happy with a football team from south of the river over unpaid SQA Exam fees.
Bundoran Bhoy says:
6 November, 2011 at 21:49
Would be my pleasure mate…
I have just been told that we are having visitors for dinner on friday evening……..noooooooo
If colum had given jelly a 2nd yellow last week for kickin the ball away 2 mins into extra time wd he have been able to play yesterday and score a “hatrick”?
hen1rik says:
6 November, 2011 at 21:43
Haven’t been on the site this week was a few week ago,was about the board all the same and 100% fact you called me a hun.Get Paul 67 get fecking Santa clause to help you for all i care you my son are a __O_ J___KE_.
Will be my last comment on the subject bhoys sorry but getting called a hun.
THE EXILED TIM says:
6 November, 2011 at 21:51
I will have a big cold Guinness for you amigo :-)
setting free the bears says:
6 November, 2011 at 21:50
You didn’t fall out with anyone…
I said about the board and MC came in and started his pish and you then came back and said everyone was talking about the board on this site not just hen1rik…
Any links to todays goals?
TT
BCC
Tis the only answer.
Celtic are Celtic, Celtic park will never be a shopping centre.
Resign Celtic
Praecepta
I coached him so his success is all down to me :))
thats it settled then, hoops stays on the bench AND starts the next game..
Good evening bhoys,
are the goals anywhere yet?
cheers
hamiltontim says:
6 November, 2011 at 21:55
Praecepta
I coached him so his success is all down to me :))
Good on you……. sometimes I think there is less hassle watching the weans!
If this hun fud is found guilty of secterian abuse, will he get a 3/5 year ban from football grounds along with the rest of the numpties?
praecepta says:
6 November, 2011 at 21:49
McGeough says. I don’t have a bad word to say about Rangers”
what a knob…..
and a hun
yous agree henr1k and lennons passion?
PaddyG
Guy who has the cave next to me is over from Italy for a few days, the young fella is renovating it for him, and I had arranged to watch the Ireland game with a few friends, a total bollix, he disny like football thinks it’s a waste of time and money cos it’s corrupt, now where have I heard that before ?
Enjoy the beer mi amigo, I will dream of the Guinness I had on wednesday :>)
Yes lol….
Lasley on Sportscene?? Says it all really!!!
Bada bing
And what about you and your intolerance of numpties ?
I have friends who are numpties.
Hail hail
Estadio
Havebt read back, so my own wee take on today has probably been covered
They did not kick us as much today as they did the last time we were there. That is nit to say they did nit kick us a lot today, they were brutal.
I have never been a great admirer of Stokes (still in a huff that he didn’t sign first time round) but for me he is our player of the year so far this season
When criagan halved paddy in two right outside the box, his mouthful at the ref (sic) was worse than the dissent Stokesy was booked for. Naturally, he was not cautioned.
Who sent the Motherwell player off? It wasn’t richmond, he was happy to let the game go. Someone had a word in his ear.
We are heading the right way.
Thug on BBC 2 not be much said about multiple assaults today.
Stringer
Thanks for not yet wrecking the blog tonight.
EWO
Heed your own advice. Don’t let the door etc.
Paddy
you Glasgow at the weekend?
Charlie Adam’s brothers chants?
If I was a pundit on sport scene tonight I would make sure I had shinguards on.
It will be very interesting to hear rob mclean’s probing incisive, paxmanesque questions about Jennings and lasleys tactics :-)
This 20 -8 stat is completely wrong.
Im sure someone will watch the game again and count the fouls and wrong decisions.
Me,… I´d put it at 26/26-6.
The ref didn´t blow for some of the assaults and pulled our players up for nothing.
Shocking and shameful from the murders and mckill.
Ref really showed himself up letting them away with all that.
I´m still boiling.
Don´t even mention the wrong throw in calls and the 2 wrong corner decisions.
Meant 28/28