Motherwell 2, Celtic 1
| Match Date: Tuesday, September 10 2002 |
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| Competition: Scottish Premier League | |
| Attendance: 8,448 | |
| Motherwell Team (4-4-2): |
Woods, Corrigan, Partridge, Sengewald, Hammell, Lasley, Adams,
Leitch (Fagan 71), Pearson (Ramsay 52), McFadden (Ferguson 89), Lehmann.
Subs not used: Dubourdeau, Russell.
Motherwell scorers: Fagan (77), McFadden (80 pen).
Yellow Cards: Leitch, Lasley, McFadden, Corrigan, Adams, Fagan.
BUTCHERS' BABES SEE OFF CHUMPIONS
Motherwell 2 Celtic 1
GOALS FROM SEAN FAGAN AND SUPER JAMES MCFADDEN Saw Motherwell make it a night to remember for their fans. Despite having Willie Young for a Refereeing appointment the Fir Parkers more than matched their multi-million pound rivals and thoroughly deserved victory.
Within the first sixty seconds or so Referee Willie Young showed amazing leniency towards Lambert when he failed to stop play after the former Fir Parker had caught Lasley late. Play continued but it wasn't long before it stopped, a rather dubious offside given against McFadden. The Referee was then very late pulling play back to give the visitors a rather soft free kick near the box; however, Woods was on hand to gather the ricochet off Larsson. Motherwell pushed forward and came close when Hammel and Adams combined to send Pearson wide. His low cross was fractionally tipped away by Douglas, the Motherwell man slumping to the ground as he was caught late by Valgaeren's tackle. Lehmann returned the ball but Douglas gathered. There was then uproar when Young decided to rescue Valgaeren when McFadden dispossessed him. The ball bounced up and struck the arm of the home striker but although completely accidental a free kick was awarded, which was just as well for the visitors as McFadden was clear. From the free kick Douglas found Larsson and he sent Petrov wide but the cross was nodded away by Partridge.
The game's first yellow card came when Leitch appeared to have won the ball from Valgaeren. It was harsh to say the least, and even more so when just moments later Thompson rattled Lasley only to escape any punishment. More good build-up from Motherwell carved open another chance. Leitch and McFadden set up Pearson for the cross and it took another fingter-tip away from Douglas to deny Lehmann, with Valgaeren booting desperately away. McFadden was showing some lovely skill and becoming a real threat to the visitors. Celtic then forced successive corners after Sutton had looked way offside but gathered only for his cross to be knocked behind by the alert debutant, Sengewald. The corner was clipped in and Hammel on the near post had to look sharp to nick it behind again. The visitors had a great chance to go ahead when Larsson, who had nudged Sengewald away, tried to lob Woods but the quite awful effort troubled no one. There was a claim for a penalty denied for Motherwell when McFadden dispossessed Valgaeren and raced towards the box. The Celtic defender caught McFadden and sent him crashing to the ground but play was waved on. A cross from Petrov then fell in between Larsson and Sutton and although cleared, Corrigan had to be on hand to block a return at Larsson' feet.
Celtic broke up field again and threatened when Agathe and Petrov combined to supply Larsson but he drove well wide. What looked like a fair winning of the ball by Leitch had Referee Young awarding a free kick to the visitors for what to all intents was a 50-50 challenge with Larsson. An error from Partridge then had Larsson bearing down on the box before a terrific Hammel tackle stopped his progress. However, Motherwell lost possession again and this time Corrigan had to concede the corner which Woods gathered. A rather dubious foul was then won by Larsson as Partridge looked to have got the better of the Swede, though from the free kick Thompson drove into the wall and the ball was hooked away. Motherwell were then inches away from the opener when, after McFadden had forced Valgaeren to concede a throw, the quick-thinking striker sent Pearson clear on the angle and his dipping drive fell only just over the bar with Douglas beaten. Celtic attempted to hit back with Sengewald knocking a dangerous Guppy cross behind. Balde's header was partially cleared by Leitch with the return from Valgaeren saved. More inconsistency from Young then had the home fans up in anger. Agathe caught Adams late but play continued until Adams had committed an almost identical foul on the visitor only for a free kick to be given. Another soft foul occurred when Partridge was adjudged to have fouled Sutton when it looked more like the latter was backing in.
In a dangerous spot, some 22 yards out and bang in front of goals, Larsson shot low but Woods made the easy save. On the half-hour Hammel was penalised when Petrov hit the deck but he free kick was cleared. Motherwell broke up field with McFadden and, finding Corrigan, the defender's attempted chip was held under the bar by Douglas. A long ball upfield then caught out the Celtic defence and as Douglas raced from goal to head clear of McFadden, the ball fell to Lasley but a poor first touch allowed the tackle to come in from Lambert. The ball broke wide for Adams but the visiting keeper held his lob. At the other end an attempted over-head flick by Sutton gave Woods few problems. A nasty challenge by Laursen on Leitch then went without punishment, Larsson setting up Petrov who drove wildly over. Superb skill from McFadden had the Celtic defence in knots, and his low driven cross was palmed away by Douglas with a despairing Valgaeren completing the clearance a second ahead of the in-rushing Lasley. Celtic then worked the ball up the park to Guppy. He turned inside Corrigan before whipping in a low cross which Larsson clipped wide under pressure from Leitch. The visitors threatened again but Sengewald made a brilliant stop to deny Thompson going on. The men from Parkhead were then given a rather dubious corner when Sutton clearly drove wide but Leitch headed away. Just prior to the break. A studs-in challenge by Valgaeren on McFadden went unsurprisingly unnoticed by Referee Young but as the Motherwell man snapped back he wasn't slow in yellow-carding him. Whilst it may have been deserved it shouldn't have got that far as the Celtic man should surely have seen yellow. Seconds before the break Larsson passed up a great chance when a slip by Sengewald allowed the Swede to bear down on Woods but he drove the wrong side of the post and the teams went in level.
Half Time Motherwell 0 Celtic 0
Willie Young had failed to produce his glasses early doors in the second half when, almost immediately in front of him, he failed to spot Lambert palming the ball forward. Lambert was then guilty of a studs-in challenge on McFadden but play continued unabated. Guppy raced away down the wing and his cross was headed over by Larsson but to the surprise of the home support and players Young indicated the ball had somehow struck Corrigan, however, justice was done when Sengewald headed well away. Larsson himself then challenged Partridge and although he clearly shoved the Motherwell man he was able to recover to prevent a corner kick. Celtic continued to push up and Larsson met the cross from Guppy only to see his effort deflected away by Corrigan. The ball was returned and this time Partridge had to knock the Guppy cross behind, though Woods was on hand to make a good take from the corner. Motherwell were then forced to make a change when Pearson, who had spent the interval trying to shake off a knock received near half-time, had to be replaced by Dougie Ramsay. There was a touch of real coolness when, in the midst of a crowded box, Martyn Corrigan nodded safely back to the arms of Woods with Larsson hovering.
McFadden then relieved the early pressure to burst forward and he drove narrowly past from 25 yards out. Agathe and Sutton then combined to force a corner which Sutton headed wide of the target. A push by Larsson on Partridge went unnoticed though as the ball then played the hand of Lasley Referee Young was instantly on the whistle to declare a free kick. Ramsay knocked the ball behind and as the corner came in Woods was unable to reach it leaving Agathe, at the back post, with a clear goal but he headed wide. Agathe had already had one or two rather late challenges and another, this time on Corrigan, heralded only a free kick. Adams sent it drifting to the back post and only inches away from Lehmann. On the hour mark Motherwell had a valid penalty claim ignored. McFadden slipped through for Ramsay and he was clearly clipped from behind by Valgaeren. The visiting fans were up in arms when firstly Thompson then Sutton fell somewhat unconvincingly as Ramsay and then Sengewald won the ball near the box. McFadden burst clear and although looking well on the rather shortsighted linesman flagged him. Similarly poorly sighted was Referee Young who failed to spot Agathe with another late tackle, this time on Leitch. Celtic made a change, taking off Thompson and replacing him with Hartson. Then a foul by Valgaeren on McFadden was only punished by a free kick when by now Valgaeren should have been walking on a tightrope. Douglas made a hash of the free kick but it struck Sengewald and went out of play. Superb defending at the other end from Corrigan stopped Petrov at the expense of a corner, the Bulgarian making a theatrical dive which failed to sway Referee Young. Another visiting change came with Agathe replaced by Maloney, whose diving antics a year previous earned him a round of boos as he entered the field. Motherwell themselves then took off the injured Leitch and brought on young Sean Fagan. The Fir Parkers pushed forward with McFadden supplying Ramsay and his chip to the back post almost found Lehmann though a very late offside flag halted play. The action swung the other way with Hartson finding Maloney but his drive almost made it for a throw-in.
Another abysmal Young decision saw Fagan booked for rolling the ball back to Lambert as he lay on the floor, chosing to rate this as violent play with the Referee failing to caution Lambert as he leaped to his feet wanting to fight anyone within 20 yards. Fagan, however, had the last laugh as a minute later he headed Motherwell in front. Brilliant play from McFadden out wide let in Hammel and the inch-perfect cross was met by Fagan whose 10-yard header went under Douglas and nestled in the back of the net. The visitors tried to strike back and after Partridge had conceded a corner Larsson headed unchallenged off the outside of the back post. Adams then brought Maloney down but a great clearance from Sengewald ended the danger. Picking the ball up, Adams chipped forward to McFadden and he raced away clear down the wing. Cutting inside Laursen, the Dane brought McFadden crashing down inside the box and although he hesitated Young couldn't do anything but award a penalty. McFadden himself clutched the ball, set it on the spot, and sent Douglas the wrong way to send the Motherwell players and fans wild with delight. Again the visitors tried to hit back and only great defending from Hammel prevented Larsson connecting with Hartson's flick. Larsson then set up Guppy but his cross went behind, though a corner was given which came to nothing. Motherwell refused to be pushed back and won a corner of their own after Lehmann had harassed Valgaeren. McFadden set up Fagan but he drove wide. A handball by Hartson went unnoticed with play continuing and Celtic getting another corner. Cleared to McFadden, he ran to the edge of the box and almost found Lasley, the ball cleared by Laursen. However, with two minutes of regulation time left, the visitors clawed a goal back. A long ball from Valgaeren was flicked on by Larsson into the path of Hartson and his shot took a wicked deflection off the foot of Corrigan and beyond Woods. Corrigan was then booked for a tug on Maloney and conceded a free kick near the edge of the box as the visitors desperately tried to level. Deflected wide Larsson returned a low cross which Woods blocked and Partridge hooked away inside a severely congested box. Another Motherwell man saw yellow when Lasley was booked for an apparent tug on Larsson giving the impression the Fir Parkers were cynical, though a more balanced Referee would probably have issued an equal amount to the visitors. McFadden left the field with a minute to go, replaced by Ferguson to a standing ovation from the home fans. Near full time a stamp by Sutton on Adams should have been punished though it appeared Referee Young felt the defeat was enough for Sutton to take. However, the full time whistle eventually blew and the Motherwell fans celebrated.
Full Time Motherwell 2 Celtic 1
Match Report by Ricky Mullen