Motherwell 0, Celtic 4

Match Date: Tuesday, March 19 2002
Competition: Scottish Premier League
Attendance: 10,134
Motherwell Team (3-5-2):

Dubourdeau, Ready, Deloumeaux, Strong, Corrigan, Lasley (Ferrere 58), Soloy, Pearson, Hammell, McFadden, Elliott (Adams 86).
Subs not used: Woods, Martinez, Ramsay. 

Yellow Cards: None.

Red Card: Pearson

NOTHING ON TV TONIGHT

Motherwell  0     Celtic  4

A DECIDEDLY POOR PERFORMANCE BY MOTHERWELL, Added to by Referee Dougall's inability to Referee, saw the Fir Parkers slump to a heavy home defeat in front of the SKY Cameras.

Motherwell should have had an early free kick when Hammel was sent crashing to the ground by Agathe after some great combination work involving McFadden and Elliott. The visitors were next to threaten, however, with Hartson turning on the edge of the box but seeing his shot saved by debutant Dubordeaux. Soon after Agathe left Hammel near the box and his cross from the by-line was headed way over by Hartson. Motherwell failed to head the warnings and fell behind to a preventable goal on 8 minutes. Lambert was able to connect with Hartson and the Larsson and with Lasley slow to cover slotted under Dubordeaux. The new home Keeper was then the recipient of an unnecessary trailing leg from Hartson when he came out to collect a low cross, Referee Dougall failing to as much as warn him.

Motherwell were struggling to contain and next Lambert sent the ball skywards from an Agathe cross. It wasn't all one-way traffic and great skill from McFadden saw him almost trouble Douglas, an outstretched Boyd leg diverting the ball onto Douglas and behind for a corner. Dubordeaux then had to be at his best to stop a Larsson header. Moments later Motherwell pushed up and should have had a free kick on the edge of the box when Petrov fouled Strong but play was waved on. And to add insult to injury Pearson clearly won the ball in midfield from Petrov though instantly the whistle was blown. The Fir Parkers came close when Mjallby nipped in to prevent Elliott from testing Douglas, and as the ball broke Lasley rushed his shot wide. Karl Ready was on hand a minute later to clear a corner after Pearson had done well to prevent Agathe finding Larsson.

A slip from Hammel saw Agathe then speed away but the Motherwell defender did exceptionally well to get back and block. Dubordeaux was doing his best to convince Eric Black of his intentions for the number 1 jersey by brilliantly parrying a fierce shot from Petrov, the ball crossed back in from Mjallby to Hartson but his header was sent behind by Larsson.

The visiting defence was beginning to have to work hard and Crainey only just stopped Lasley going clear. Crainey should have seen yellow when he caught McFadden late, play was waved on and the Celtic man escaped. Dubordeaux was on hand again to take a dangerous Guppy cross and from his kick out he found Elliott. The Northern Irish International sent in a superb cross but Lasley completely miss-kicked and the chance was gone. Lambert was next to escape a card when he made no attempt to get the ball and hit McFadden. After Larsson had shot wildly over Celtic then were given a free kick which they moved a full 20 yards further up the pitch. Motherwell were the better team at this point and just before the break Strong strode forward and powered in a shot on the angle which Douglas did well to parry and gather as Elliott looked to pounce.

Half-Time     Motherwell  0     Celtic  1

Although Motherwell ended the first half on top they failed to take it into the second and began on the back foot. Dubordeaux had to be sharp to stop a header from Moravcik near the post from Agathe's cross soon after the re-start. It wasn't all Celtic, however, and Elliott and McFadden combined well though the latter's great cross found no Motherwell player following up. The visitors took advantage of this by trebling their lead in an 8-minute spell which completely put the game beyond Motherwell. Firstly, from a corner awarded when it appeared Hartson had fouled Strong, Larsson rose unchallenged to nod home with Dubordeaux coming and failing to connect with the cross. Then Pearson quite inexplicably clattered into the back of Agathe and was instantly shown the red card which he could have no complaints about.

Motherwell tried to hit back and Boyd was just in time to stop Deloumeaux cross finding Elliott. Given Pearson's red Guppy could and should have joined him for a similar late, late kick at Deloumeaux near the corner flag, Referee Dougall deciding a yellow was enough. Lasley was then replaced by Ferrere as Motherwell tried to get back in. The Celtic players were enjoying the benefit of Dougall's leniency with Petrov the next to escape, McFadden taking time to recover from the hefty lunge. The third goal came on the hour mark, Hartson rather unnecessarily brought down by Dubordeaux as he looked to be running the ball out near the by-line. Hartson unsurprisingly fell as if shot, instantly got to his feet, and Larsson put the ball away.

The latter could have had a hat trick a minute later, this time Dubordeaux clutching the ball from Larsson. A hero against Hibs Ferrere tried hard to get Motherwell back in the game and his superb pass was well read by Crainey who nicked it away from McFadden. Motherwell were having a spell in attack and as Corrigan and Ferrere combined McFadden gathered but sent his shot well wide. The home fans were angered when Guppy ran the ball out of play but was still awarded a corner. Moravcik played the ball directly to Petrov and his net-bound shot was brilliantly parried by Dubordeaux for a corner. Motherwell broke up field with McFadden but with options either side he chose to go alone and was crowded out. The visitors made a triple substitution, with Sylla, McNamara and Smith replacing Moravcik, Lambert and Agathe respectively. A rash Sylla challenge, again without a yellow card, gave Motherwell a chance to test Douglas but Ferrere's shot was charged down by McNamara who raced rather early from the wall. The visitors were enjoying more possession and they went further ahead. From a corner conceded by Strong Mjallby half-volleyed Crainey's hook back home from 20 yards bang in front of goals. A great run from Deloumeaux almost gave the home fans some cheer but his chip went over the bar.

Despite an early flag and whistle Hartson then continued to play on when way offside but Dougall decided this was no a breach of the rules. After Sylla had sent a shot inches past Motherwell made a change, Elliott making way for Adams. Celtic almost got a fifth when Dubordeaux was slow off his line to Larsson's ball and Hartson headed just wide. There was to be no yellow card for Petrov despite another hard, late challenge on McFadden in midfield. As time ran out an error from Hammel was pounced upon by Larsson though Ready did well to shepherd the ball out.

Full-time     Motherwell  0     Celtic  4

Match Report by Ricky Mullen

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