Celtic 1, Motherwell 0

Match Date: Saturday, April 7 2007
Competition: Scottish Premier League
Attendance: 58,654
Motherwell Team (4-4-2):

Graeme Smith, Corrigan, Craigan, Reynolds, Danny Murphy, McBride, Kerr, McGarry, Vadocz, Darren Smith (Jamie Murphy 79), Clarkson.
Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Kinniburgh, Molloy, Quinn, Fitzpatrick, Connolly.

Booked: Craigan, Kerr.

BATTLING WELL UNLUCKY TO LOSE OUT

Celtic  1     Motherwell  0

A BATTLING Performance from Motherwell saw them lose rather unluckily at Parkhead. Minus Scott McDonald, the Fir Parkers pushed their hosts all the way and were well worthy of at least a point, with the winning goal tinged with controversy as the match official failed to stop play for a head knock to David Clarkson.

Caldwell got forward early for the hosts to fire in a deep cross towards the back posts but found no takers. Murphy and Clarkson combined to open up the defence and won a corner, but Pressley cleared this. The home support made a bit of noise when a Zurawski shot was deflected behind by Craigan, with the Referee pointing for a goal kick when a corner should have been given. Craigan was then adjudged to have fouled Zurawski conceding a free kick 30 yards out. McGeady attempted to pick out Hesselink but Reynolds cleared. The winger was more accurate with a pass to Zurawski but he then dragged his shot wide of the upright. Hesselink went down easily as Murphy challenged soon after though the free kick was easy for Craigan to hook away. Pressley took Clarkson down to give Motherwell a free kick outside the box, and Murphy crossed in towards Clarkson but he couldn’t get enough on the header to direct it goal wards. Clarkson pushed up field and, with the space opening up, he rather disappointingly drove well wide. Darren Smith appeared to be bundled over by Lennon on the edge of the box but play continued, with Vadocz then turning and shooting narrowly wide form the edge of the box. A partial clearance from McBride fell into the path of McGeady who raced towards the box but fired an angled shot well over. Following a corner conceded by Corrigan, Hartley got on the ball as it came in but Smith made a good parry with Kerr knocking behind. Kerr then met the ball to clear comfortably. Motherwell were still looking dangerous on the attack, with a vital interception from Lennon denying McGarry a connection with a Clarkson cutback. Clarkson then dispossessed Naylor to race toward the box but his low shot was held by Boruc. Motherwell almost took the lead when firstly Clarkson got on the end of a McBride cross but saw his header blocked. As the Celtic defence struggled to clear McGarry had an effort desperately blocked by Pressley from another McBride ball in. Hartley took play up field for the hosts and almost found Hesselink, good defending from Craigan denying contact. A very close offside decision then stopped Smith going clear on a neat Clarkson pass. Stevie Craigan was carded for a tackle from the back on Zurawski, the Pole being subbed with an ankle knock with Riordan taking his place. From the free kick McGeady burst into the box and his angled drive hit the side netting with most of the home support celebrating incorrectly. Motherwell forced a corner and, despite being cleared, were soon on the attack again with Smith sending in an inviting cross, which Clarkson just failed to connect with. McGarry was able to find Clarkson moments later but his turn and shot was well held by Boruc. Motherwell were attacking with confidence now, and from a McBride corner Craigan headed wide. Just before the break another corner saw Kerr have a 25-yarder again saved.

Half-Time     Celtic  0     Motherwell  0

Motherwell resumed where they had left off, with again Kerr seeing a shot from outside the box go over the top. Naylor joined Craigan in the book when he couldn’t keep his mouth shut after a foul on Smith. Clarkson turned on the edge of the box but gain couldn’t direct his shot beyond Boruc. The Motherwell striker took a head knock but despite this being clearly seen by Referee Smith play was continued. Celtic broke up field and, after Nakamura had crossed deep to Hesselink, Riordan netted his knock down, though play quite simply should never have got this far. McGeady brought down Smith as Motherwell attempted to hit back. Rolled along to Kerr his clip from 25 yards out wasn’t far off target with Boruc struggling to get across. McGarry then saw a teasing ball just evade Clarkson as it ran to Boruc. Celtic were given a free kick when Nakamura took an all-too familiar tumble under very little Craigan pressure outside the box. Nakamura made a remarkable recovery to curl the free kick towards the back post and Smith made a superb save at the expense of a corner. O’Dea rose above all to head the ball well past the target. Pressley really should have been booked for yet another late challenge on Clarkson, Motherwell being given a free kick. As play continued Kerr saw his shot deflected to Smith clear on the left but Boruc made a superb block to deny a deserved equaliser. McGeady shot wide as Celtic responded. Brian Kerr saw another shot deflect behind for a corner with Caldwell managing to just beat Clarkson to the ball. Excellent backtracking from McGarry then denied Riordan the chance for a second as he looked to go clear. McGeady gathered a long ball up field to turn and shoot wide, with Kerr then booked for an earlier trip in the midfield. Good build up from Motherwell took them towards the Celtic defence with McGarry firing a shot over the top with options available. Another spectacular Nakamura tumble earned him a free kick though this curling shot was wide of the target. Vadocz managed to weave his way into the box but found his route to goal crowded, with the ball breaking to Smith and, although caught by Naylor, play was waved on. Smith was then clearly fouled by O’Dea but again the Referee chose to ignore the obvious. Motherwell gave a debut to young Jamie Murphy, coming on in place of the relative veteran Darren Smith, with Celtic replacing Hesselink with Beattie. Yet another Pressley foul on Clarkson saw a free kick, but no card. Cleared to Kerr he drove wide of goal. Celtic broke forward to force a corner though Riordan headed over. Beattie passed up an opportunity when he raced clear on Smith but delayed allowing the Motherwell keeper to gather. In the last minute Motherwell won a corner and, when swung over by McBride, the header from Craigan forced a superb tip over by Boruc. This time the Referee declared a foul, and Motherwell’s last chance was gone.

Full Time     Celtic  1     Motherwell  0

Match Report by Ricky Mullen

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