Celtic 1, Motherwell 0

Match Date: Saturday, August 5 2000
Competition: Scottish Premier League
Attendance: 58,534

Motherwell Team:

Goram, Corrigan (Elliott 82), Kemble, Strong, Brannan, McMillan, Davies, Harvey (Townsley 61), Hammell, McCulloch, Wood (Nicholas 61).
Subs not used: Woods, Ange

NARROW DEFEAT LEAVES 'WELL AT THE FOOT

Celtic 1     Motherwell 0

FOLLOWING LAST WEEK'S DISMAL Home defeat to Dundee, Motherwell produced a much more promising performance only to go down to a questionable goal at Parkhead. The main talking points surrounded the three dismissals, though the winning goal itself carried a hint of controversy itself.

Still understrength, Motherwell pushed upfield from the kick-off and almost took the lead inside the first minute. An interception by young Martin Wood, who then passed to Martyn Corrigan, saw Motherwell stretch the home defence, the ball then being laid off by Davies for Harvey and his 25-yard drive was parried by Gould, McNamara completing the clearance for a throw. Motherwell kept the ball in the home half and were awarded a free kick when Mahe brought down Wood, though Brannan's take was cleared. One of many tussles involving Strong and Sutton saw the ball break for Lambert. He burst into the box and was only denied by a great recovery tackle from Strong. As the corner was whipped in Tebily headed well over. The games' first booking wasn't long in coming and it was a silly yellow to concede for John Davies. He slid in late on Petrov though the intervention of hothead Stephan Mahe should also have seen him collect a card. Celtic gained another free-kick well up when Corrigan was harshly punished for a challenge on Mahe. Strong initially cleared Lambert's header and the return was headed wide by Valgaeren. Two minutes later the home side took the lead. Petrov was given space and time on the edge of the box to chest the ball down and strike home, though it has to be said Berkovic looked suspiciously offside and clearly interfering with play. Motherwell refused to be downhearted and clever build-up play gave Corrigan an opportunity to cross deep, but unfortunately the cross was poor with a good visiting prescence in the box. The Steelmen got wide again and this time McMillan picked out Wood, the header though had little angle and sailed to the other side of the 6-yard box where McCulloch was shepherded away by Mahe. It took a good block by Goram to keep Motherwell just one behind when Larsson sneaked away from Hammel to crack in a shot, the ball running for a throw. Valgaeren met the throw but his header troubled no one. The visiting support were up in arms second later when Wood sent McMillan racing up field only for Valgaeren to bring the midfielder down, though Referee Freeland waved play-on. Celtic broke forward with former Fir Parker Lambert shooting from 18 yards, Goram comfortable with the save. Greg Strong then conceded a free kick on the edge of the box when tackling Larsson. The free kick was re-taken with the Motherwell defence failing to heed the initial take giving McNamara a free shot which went over the bar. Soon after both Strong and Sutton saw yellow when firstly Strong tangled with Sutton, then, as Sutton got up, he was late on Hammel after the whistle had already blown. It was a silly booking to Strong, with Sutton surely having little complaint with a late lunge after play had been stopped. Berkovic should also have gone in the book sixty seconds later for a clip on Davies though play failed to stop. Goram then had to be sharp to race out and collect ahead of Sutton who looked set to latch on to Larsson's ball. A sloppy back-pass by McNamara led to a goalmouth scramble which ended when Tebily desperately slammed the ball away from McCulloch with McNamara redeeming himself by completing the clearance. A break by McCulloch gave McMillan the chance to send Wood clear, and whilst looking on, he was flagged offside. Despite being pulled back by Sutton, Ged Brannan managed a great block as Larsson shot for goals. The ball ran loose for Berkovic who curled a shot wide the Goram covering. Loose control by Valgaeren then almost allowed Wood a sniff but the Belgian was able to recover in time. With nine minutes of the half to go Davies was sent-off for a second bookable offence. He could have little complaint with this either, as he was beaten by Petrov and rather unnecessarily brought the player down. Celtic attacked and Goram had to react well to save a snapshot from Berkovic on the edge of the box. Larsson then sent a long ball for Berkovic which ran out, play being brought back to allow the Referee to book Kemble for a challenge on Larsson who looked to have fallen rather than having been tackled. Right on half-time Motherwell were given a free-kick 40 yards out when Valgaeren again fouled McCulloch. The ball was swung in though amazingly an offside flag was raised immediately for reasons known only to the linesman.

Half-time     Celtic 1     Motherwell 0

Tidy defending by Martyn Corrigan denied a dangerous cross from McNamara right at the start of the second half, the defender intelligently heading back for Goram. McNamara was in action seconds later in front of his own goal when he had to nick the ball away from Wood who looked set to capitalise on Corrigan's long pass. Larsson then ran wide and saw his cross-blocked by Kemble and McMillan for a corner, the eventual ball being headed wide by Larsson in lots of space. Belgian defender Valgaeren again escaped a yellow for a clumsy challenge on McCulloch, though the free kick allowed Motherwell to push further forward and win a corner. This, however, was poorly taken by Harvey who sent the ball deep and out of play. Harvey then produced a great ball to give Corrigan space on the wing, but with support slow in arriving he was crowded out. A quite blatant dive by Petrov won his team a free kick as Kemble appeared to win the ball near the box. Tebily passed to Petrov who curled a shot wide of the far post. Motherwell then replaced the tired Wood with Nicholas, as well as Harvey with Derek Townsley. Then a snapshot by Sutton, connecting with a loose ball on the edge of the box, cracked of the right-hand post of Andy Goram, the ball falling beyond Larsson with Strong clearing for a corner. A terrific run by Townsley saw him carry the ball right to the home box, but there was a lack of support forcing him to turn the ball back for Corrigan. The ball was played to McCulloch who was caught very late indeed by McNamara, the home defender lucky to only escape with a caution. However, less than a minute later, having failed to heed the warning, the Celtic player saw red for another late tackle, this time on Kemble who required treatment off field before continuing. Prior to Kemble's return Martyn Corrigan sent McCulloch into the box and from a difficult angle the striker shot across the face of goal and wide. Celtic replaced Berkovic with Mjallby in a clear attempt to defend the remainder of the match. Sutton fell dramatically near the box as Kemble challenged though Strong was able to head the free kick well away. Motherwell were beginning to see a lot more of the ball though from a promising attack a stray pass from Brannan saw Celtic break upfield. Larsson went wide but Kemble made a good interception at the expense of a corner. With 10 minutes left Celtic were reduced to nine men. Strong and Sutton chased a forward ball towards the corner flag and whilst both players appeared somewhat guilty of pulling and tugging Sutton saw red the second he rose to his feet. It was a harsh decision to receive a second yellow for this incident, indeed neither player deserved a card, but earlier persistent fouling by Sutton perhaps sealed his fate on this occasion. Motherwell then more or less pinned Celtic back for the remaining time without seriously troubling the home defence, now packed solid. Two minutes later Kemble sent Elliott clear in the box and whilst he looked well on a linesman's flag was raised, though Gould was able to turn the flick past the post. A minute later the ball broke to Elliott on the edge of the box and with time to control the ball he instead chose a first-time effort which went well wide. A by-now-rare Celtic break saw Petrov head for goal though Goram held easily. Sixty seconds later Larsson should have seen yellow for a clear dive by the corner flag, play being waved on. With virtually the last kick of the ball McCulloch and Petrov clashed in midfield, with McCulloch booked for apparently raising his foot. Celtic held on for a narrow win.

FULL TIME     Celtic 1     Motherwell 0

Match Report by Ricky Mullen (rmullen@motherwell.co.uk)