Motherwell 1 Celtic 4

00:00

Scottish Premier League
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Fir Park, Motherwell

MOTHERWELL v CELTIC

TEAM NEWS: Gordon Strachan has made two changes to the starting XI that ran out for last weekend’s 1-0 home defeat to Motherwell, both in the centre of midfield. The suspended Scott Brown is unavailable for today’s game and is replaced by Paul Hartley, with Barry Robson in for Massimo Donati. There are places on the bench for the teenage Paul Caddis, long-serving centre-back Bobo Balde and Japanese midfielder, Koki Mizuno.

MOTHERWELL (4-5-1) Smith; Quinn, Reynolds, Craigan, Hammell; Lappin, Fitzpatrick, McLean, Hughes, McCormack; Porter.
Subs: Daniels, Lasley, McGarry, Smith, Archdeacon, Forbes, Murphy.
CELTIC (4-4-2) Boruc; Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor; Nakamura, Hartley, Robson, McGeady; Vennegoor of Hesselink, McDonald.
Subs: M Brown, Sno, Caddis, Mizuno, Samaras, Killen, Balde.

01:00

Motherwell kick off

01:00

Free kick to Motherwell out on the left touchline after Naylor brings down McCormack. Lappin takes and Boruc punches away the ball at his back post. Celtic eventually clear their lines.

03:00

Naylor targeted again by Motherwell. This time the left back clears on the second attempt.

04:00

Nakamura stabs a ball out of defence that McDonald takes over the halfway line. The Australian is halted by Mark Reynolds.

05:00

Long range shot by McGeady flies over the bar.

07:00

Loose ball by McGeady allows Motherwell to clear after a long ball by Caldwell took Celtic down the left wing. Celtic regroup and another ball in by McGeady is cleared at the near post by Reynolds.

08:00

Good ball down the right hand channel by Nakamura sees McDonald take the ball on his chest, step inside and unleash a left-footed shot that bobbles wide of target.

11:00

Hartley caught by Stephen Hughes. Free kick given to Celtic.

11:00

McDonald's attempt at a volley blocked by Reynolds.

14:00

McDonald robbed of the ball as Celtic attempt to counter attack. McCormack penalised for a foul on Hinkel.

15:00

Good slide challenge by McManus halts a promising run on goal by Porter.

17:00

Reynolds spoken to after a late challenge on Robson on the flank. Nakamura takes the free kick, curling it in with his left foot, onto the head of Gary Caldwell, the ball spins in the air and is met by the head of Stephen McManus, who nods it over the line through a pack of players. Great determination from the Celtic captain. MOTHERWELL 0 CELTIC 1

20:00

McDonald misses a great chance. Nakamura free kick headed on by McManus, McDonald meets the ball around eight yards out, but fails to direct the ball on target.

21:00

Motherwell free kick headed on by Porter, Boruc collects easily.

22:00

Robson caught in possession as he waits for a ball to drop. Motherwell counter quickly and maintain the pressure. Boruc collects at his near post.

24:00

Nice crossfield pass by Robson for McGeady. His attempted cross is deflected away.

24:00

GOAL MOTHERWELL - Hartley caught in possession, quick counter attack with McCormack and Hughes breaking forward with a couple of neat one-twos. Hughes puts through McCormack, he fires past Boruc and sees his shot fired into the back of his own net by McManus as he scrambles to clear.

27:00

Excellent challenge by Hammell to rob Nakamura of the ball as he shapes to shoot.

30:00

GOAL CELTIC - Scott McDonald with a beautiful finish, strike a sweet half volley after Motherwell had failed to deal with a ball lifted into the mix by Nakamura. 2-1 Celtic!

32:00

Nice move forward by Celtic, with Hinkel and Nakamura combining and the German lifting a ball down the left for McGeady. His cross is blocked and cleared by Stephen Craigan.

34:00

Referee misses a blatant handball in the box from Barry Robson. Motherwell goalkeeper Smith warned for his protests.

37:00

Good move breaks down after Robson took a heavy touch on the ball. Good break by McGeady on the left to start the move.

38:00

Ross McCormack ties Caldwell in knots going forward but goes down easily under a Hartley challenge and loses possession.

39:00

Nakamura free kick curled in to the near post and met by McManus, who heads over.

40:00

Shot by Hughes from the edge of the box goes high over the bar.

42:00

Free kick given against Craigan for a challenge from behind on McDonald. Celtic maintain the pressure, but Vennegoor of Hesselink is shown a yellow card, apparently for persistant fouling, as the move breaks down in the box.

44:00

GOAL CELTIC - Nakamura corner from the right, almost finds Vennegoor of Hesselink, but the ball goes out for another corner. This time taken from the left, met in the air by Vennegoor of Hesselink again and powered into the back of the net.

46:00

Motherwell corner swung in by Lappin, shout for a penalty as Naylor challenges Quinn. Not given and Celtic clear their lines.

46:00

HALF TIME WHISTLE SOUNDS - Motherwell 1 Celktic 3 - Celtic goals from McManus, McDonald and Vennegoor of Hesselink.

46:00

SECOND HALF RESUMES - Celtic kick off.

48:00

Caldwell free kick headed on by Vennegoor of Hesselink. Move breaks down with a misplaced pass from Naylor.

49:00

Scott McDonald sends another rasping effort wide of target. The shot was deflected off a defender.

51:00

Naylor forced to slide in and concede a corner as Quinn threatens. Lappin takes, Caldwell clears and McCormack then comes close with a first time volley.

52:00

Robson curls in a great ball from the corner spot. Vennegoor of Hesselink meets it in the air, but can't hit the target.

54:00

Naylor and McGeady combine on the left, Motherwell clear, but Hartley manages to squeeze off a shot from the edge of the box after Celtic regained possession.

57:00

GOAL CELTIC - Great goal from Celtic. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink is the scorer, latching on to a Barry Robson knock down and rifling his shot into the top corner. Celtic go 4-1 up!

58:00

MOTHERWELL SUBSTITUTION - Steven McGarry on for Lappin.

58:00

Great run forward by McGeady ends with Robson's shot being blocked by Craigan.

61:00

Quinn brings down Naylor with a late challenge. Free kick Celtic.

64:00

Referee completely misses a push on Hartley by McCormack which allows Motherwell to counter. Boruc clears.

65:00

Smith collects a Nakamura corner under pressure from Vennegoor of Hesselink.

70:00

MOTHERWELL SUBSTITUTION - Marc Fitzpatrick off, Darren Smith on.

72:00

Stunning save from Artur Boruc! Stephen Hughes jinks through the heart of the Celtic defence and looks a cert to score, but Boruc pulls off a stunning one-handed save.

78:00

Motherwell get va free kick after Smith falls down on the edge of the box as Naylor and Hartley challenge. Boruc saves McCormack's effort.

79:00

Hartley blocks the run of Smith and allows Boruc to collect inside his box.

81:00

McCormack wins a corner as he attempts to jink past Nakamura and Hinkel. Set piece easily cleared by Celtic.

82:00

MOTHERWELL SUB - Jamie Murphy on for Chris Porter. CELTIC SUB - Vennegoor of Hesselink replaced by Samaras.

83:00

McGeady opts to go for goal, driving a shot high over the bar.

85:00

Hammell drives a speculative effort over the bar.