Match date : Saturday 18th April 1998 Competition : Premier League Attendance : 49,541
TOOTHLESS 'WELL BOWLED OVER BY CELTIC
Celtic 4 Motherwell 1MOTHERWELL Slumped to their heaviest defeat under Harri Kampman when they produced possibly their worst performance of the season at a sunny Parkhead. Whilst the win pushed Celtic closer to the championship, it did nothing but disappoint their loyal travelling support.
The game began well for Motherwell with some good football. With the team battling for every bal, a repeat of the last visit to Parkhead in November, when Motherwell won 2-0 against all the odds, looked to be possible. With Eliphas Shivute on from the start, the 'Well fans anticipated an attacking performance from their favourites. Celtic had the early possession but there was little penetration. Darren Jackson tried in vain to win his side an early penalty with a swan-like dive under pressure from Valakari and as the ball returned into the box Larrson escaped Denham, but poor control allowed Martin to eventually clear to the half-way line. Celtic were pressing, though a moment of controversey came as the ball clearly came of Donnelly yet the home side were awarded a corner. From the kick, Stubbs rose to head past. However, Motherwell weathered the early storm and stunned the near-50,000 crowd with a fine goal. Stubbs pass out of defence was intercepted by the busy McMillan. After a mazy run towards the box his chip was flicked on by Coyne into the path of Shivute. The Namibian's shot was blocked, but it fell kindly for McMillan who chested down and finished with a sweet left-foot drive into Gould's right-hand corner. Bouyed by this, the visitors almost grabbed a second. Shivute, relishing receipt of Coyne's ball, slid in a low cross which Coyle rapped off Stubbs. Somehow the corner was not given, though without Stubbs intervention it was surely a goal. Celtic hit back, Jackson on the bye-line cut back for Larrson who had evaded Martin. A header in to the path of Donnelly saw the Scotland player with only Woods to beat, but the Motherwell keeper produced a terrific save and the ball was cleared. For some strange reason Motherwell seemed to switch off, and this allowed Celtic increasing amounts of possession. With Motherwell defending way too deeply, Celtic were able to string several passes together. Ex-'Well man Boyd chipped into the box for O'Donnell in space, and his cut-back was rattled home by Burley who breezed by the comatosed Falconer. Motherwell then had a scary moment when Donnelly went in very late on Woods. The Motherwell keeper recovered, though Donnelly escaped any punishment. Woods saved as Burley fired in a 25-yarder, then he slipped a ball through for Jackson to go one-on-one with Woods. Again the Motherwell keeper rescued his team with a fine stop. However, with the visitors unable to put any passes together, it was no surprise when Celtic went ahead near the interval. Stubbs ball forward was chested down by Larrson into Burley's path, and despite Brian Martin 's despairing attempt to stop him the ball raced beyond Woods into the net.
Half-Time Celtic 2 Motherwell 1With their ears clearly ringing, Motherwell began the second-half in far better mettle than the first. McMillan's pass into the box only just evaded Shivute otherwise an equaliser was on the cards. However, the early promise soon faded, and the home side scored again on 49 minutes. Burely and Larrson were able to exhcange passes all too easily on the edge of the box. The Scotsman crossed towards the back post, and with the entire Motherwell defence bar Kevin Christie pulling out in a line, Jackson was able to head back for the on-side Donnelly to have the easiest tap-in of his career. Why Christie chose to follow Jackson is anyone's guess. The lacklustre Willie Falconer then produced two shockingly lazy passes which put his side in serious trouble, Burely shooting just past the post following O'Donnell's interception. On the hour-mark Motherwell replaced Coyle with McCulloch, the Irish International so upset at his substituion that he had to be warned by Police regarding his conduct. Celtic scored a fourth soon after. The quiet Tommy Coyne's pass to Valakari fell short and was intercepted by Burley. Exchanging with Larrson, he slipped a ball through to Donnely who had ran along the line to score, with neither Denham nor McMillan spotting his run. In a rare Motherwell attack Martin found Falconer with a long pass, but despite turning well the shot was high, wide, and far from handsome. Burley burst into the Motherwell box with a great run but saw his final ball clear, then Jackson forced Woods into a great save with a 16-yard shot. At the end Motherwell were a well-beaten, tired side, and now go on to face Dunfermline in a crucial match at Fir Park.
Final Score Celtic 4 Motherwell 1