Celtic v Motherwell 27.10.99
Celtic 0, Motherwell 1
Match date : Wednesday, October 27 1999Competition : Premier LeagueAttendance : 58,731
Motherwell Team:
Goram, Doesburg, Teale, Kemble, McMillan, Twaddle (Nicholas), Valakari, Brannan, Goodman, McCulloch (Nevin), Spencer (McGowan).
Subs not used: Woods, Townsley.
Motherwell scorer: Twaddle (15).
TEN-MAN ‘WELL STEEL DESERVED PARKHEAD WIN
Celtic 0 Motherwell 1
DESPITE THE LOSS OF INFLUENTIAL CENTRE-HALF Sean Teale to a dubious ordering-off decision, brave Motherwell refused to panic or buckle and ran out deserved winners to move to fifth in the table. An expertly taken Kevin Twaddle goal separated the sides, but no one could deny Motherwell’s worthiness to be victors on the night.
The Fir Parkers were up for the match right from kick-off, and inside the first minute Michel Doesburg forced a corner for the visitors. Lee McCulloch laid the corner off for Ged Brannan, but his shot was blocked by a Mjallby tackle. The ball broke out to Brannan and he slipped it inside for McCulloch, but an offside flag, a close call, was given. The home side attacked and a good piece of work by Goodman cut out Lambert’s cross. Sean Teale was forced to concede a corner, and then a second, and when that one was swung in Stevie McMillan comfortably dealt with Viduka’s attempted run into the box. Motherwell then broke upfield, Don Goodman supplied Twaddle on the wing, and his perfect cross was met by John Spencer, but the brilliance of the move was matched by the expert save from Gould who somehow blocked the header. The ball bobbled around in the box until Goodman sent a shot blazing over the bar. Recent signing Benito Kemble made an excellent interception as Moravcik sent a pass to Viduka, and a minute later Moravcik himself sent in a shot which was well over. Celtic’s Bulgarian defender Petrov tried his luck soon after but a great block by Sean Teale stopped the shot, and although Motherwell broke forward Spencer’s poor cross was caught by Gould. From the kick-out Mjallby crossed to Burley but his mis-hit struck McMillan to run for a throw. A short pass-back by Teale almost gave Viduka a chance but between Teale and Goram they dealt with the situation eventually. A late Stubbs challenge on McCulloch gave Motherwell a free-kick just inside the Celtic half, but a poor take allowed the home side to break, though to little effect. A good Motherwell move in 12 minutes involving Doesburg and Spencer was only stopped by a timely intervention by Mjallby who cut out the pass for McCulloch in space. Play quickly returned to the home defence area, and McCulloch’s flick was deliberately handled by Mjallby, who escaped a caution but not a free-kick. However, Brannan’s attempt was cleared by Moravcik who had nipped in ahead of McCulloch. The busy McCulloch then sent Spencer down the wing, but in a tussle with Stubs the defender was given the free-kick despite his initial challenge on the Motherwell player. However, on the quarter-hour Motherwell got the crucial goal their opening play had deserved. A perfect pass from Stevie McMillan split open the home defence, with Kevin Twaddle outpacing Petrov to slot expertly beyond Gould for his first goal for Motherwell. The home team tried to strike back but Viduka’s aimless header went past. Ged Brannan was then booked for a first challenge of the match, being slightly late on Petrov but no worse than Stubbs earlier assault on McCulloch. Mjallby then presented McCulloch with an opportunity with a mis-placed pass in midfield, but without support the striker was eventually crowded out. Terrific defending by Sean Teale then stopped Viduka as he looked to aim up a shot on goals, and from a soft free-kick awarded after Brannan had challenged Moravcik, McMillan rose to head clear. Replacement Referee McDonald, a late substitute for Willie Young, then enraged the Motherwell support when he firstly failed to halt play for a Mjallby challenge on Twaddle, then continued to play on for a full 30 seconds whilst the Motherwell winger lay injured. Celtic continued to search for an equaliser, but stout defending from the impressive Kemble denied Viduka once again. Don Goodman threatened to run clear but a well-timed tackle by Riseth stopped his progress. The home side were certainly not as up for the match as Motherwell, and as if to emphasise that a simple Riseth pass to Stubbs on the half-way line was allowed to run on and out of play. A dangerous cross by Petta then looked to have found Viduka only for McMillan to head behind. Brannan cleared, but only as far as Petta who blasted wide. Celtic were certainly seeing more of the ball but doing little with it, though Burley got into a dangerous position only to drag his shot wide, however, somehow gaining a corner at the same time. Moravcik saw a shot blocked, but a brilliant save by Goram then denied a net-bound Petrov header. Motherwell at last put together an noteworthy attack, and it was great work by Don Goodman who sent McCulloch through the middle. His pass to Twaddle was returned by Goodman’s header for McCulloch, but a weak shot rather disappointingly ended a clever move. Burley had an effort on goal at the other end well wide, though it could have been mistaken for a pass to Viduka out wide. With eleven minutes to the interval there was controversy when Motherwell stalwart Sean Teale was sent off. Ged Brannan was short with a pass which allowed Viduka to send Burchill through. Teale, slightly behind, caught the striker after he had managed to shoot wide, and although there were other Motherwell defenders in the vicinity the Referee rather harshly sent Teale off. Motherwell were furious, and a quick re-organisation followed. The free-kick which was awarded was blocked and cleared. Spencer was then withdrawn and replaced by McGowan as Motherwell regained their shape at the back after such a massive blow. Motherwell refused to buckle and tried to press forward. Brannan showed good work but then slipped a strong pass to McCulloch which Riseth cut out. Celtic broke, and it took a good save from Goram to deny Moravcik, though play should have been halted after Viduka had handled before passing into the box. Referee McDonald’s glaring inconsistencies were there for all to see when he refused to book Petta for a very late tackle on Dosburg. Five minutes from the break Moravcik’s trickery gained him space only for McGowan to knock his cross behind. Riseth saw a shot deflected of McMillan before Stubbs headed well over. Motherwell were being pushed back into defence, though there was still no way through for the home side. Brannan cut out Burley’s rout to goal with a well-timed interception. Just before the break Mjallby got the benefit of the doubt when he and McCulloch tussled, though the Motherwell striker would rightly have felt harshly done by as Mjallby initially pulled him back.. From the free kick Brannan again with a great cut-out stopped Moravcik’s pass. Right on half-time Kemble blocked Burley’s shot, with Moravcik’s follow-up deflected by Brannan for a corner which came to nothing.
Half-Time Celtic 0 Motherwell 1
Celtic replaced Mjallby with Tebilly at the start of the second half, though Motherwell were first to threaten. Valakari and Goodman combined to almost put McCulloch through with Stubbs there just in time to clear. The home side the embarked on a period of sustained pressure but to no end result for Celtic. Burley found himself in space but trod on the ball and it was cleared. Benito Kemble made a terrific clearance as Viduka looked to score, then again the Dutchman stopped Burley’s run. Petta then hit the by-line to cross for Viduka but McGowan partially cleared. As the ball came back in Viduka thought he had levelled but a brilliant tip over the bar from Goram denied the Aussie. Stubbs header from the corner was pushed round the post by the ever-alert Motherwell custodian. Lambert then shot but the effort was deflected by Brannan for another corner, McCulloch and Kemble combining to clear the danger. Nine minutes in Motherwell replaced Nevin for the tired McCulloch. Celtic attacked once more, though Petrov was fortunate to escape a booking when his clear dive went unpunished inside the box. Stubbs, angry at the lack of movement from his strikers, fired in a 30-yarder which Goram confidently watched whistle by. Burley and Moravcik then worked space for Viduka buy great covering by McMillan saw the throw-in conceded. Moravcik got in a shot but it deflected off Viduka for a goal-kick. Then Petrov set up Viduka who turned McGowan but fired over from 14 yards out, Goram covering. The home fans, already restless, booed loudly as Barnes took off Burchill and Petrov to replace them with Wieghorst and, to the delight of the travelling support, the hapless Harold Brattbakk. Indeed, Brattbakk’s first involvement saw him fall flat on his backside as he fresh-aired a cross to the back post. More brilliant goalkeeping by Goram then denied Moravcik, with play being allowed to continue for several seconds despite two Motherwell defenders lying injured in the box. Stubbs was then booked for protesting at the stop in play. With twenty-four minutes to go the exhausted Twaddle trooped off to be replaced by Nicholas. A mix-up involving Viduka and Burley gave Goodman a chance to break but his poor ball to Nicholas went astray. Lambert then went without a card when he was very late on Valakari, and to add to the Finn’s fury play was waved on. On 72 minutes Wieghorst’s cross was partially cleared by Kemble but fell to the feet of Brattbakk who had his back to goal. With the reaction of a sleeping whale the Norwegian striker had the ball taken away by Kemble who cleared to Burley, and his shot went wide. Spaces were beginning to appear in the home defence, Don Goodman sent Steven Nicholas away, but he was hauled back by Stubbs though no free-kick was awarded. Ged Brannan picked up on the loose ball and again attempted to send Nicholas away but this time Tebilly with a legal challenge cleared. The alert Kemble was on hand to cut out Brattbakk’s dangerous pass for Viduka, and as the ball broke Petta shot well wide of the far post. With 14 minutes to Motherwell almost put the result beyond doubt. Pat Nevin should typical vision by slotting the ball wide for Nicholas, he ran on and curled a shot which scraped inches over the bar with Gould well beaten. Competent defending by Doesburg saw a Petrov run fizzle out. Stevie McMillan was forced to concede a corner from Burley’s cross, though Tebilly’s header sailed wide. A rare Kemble error from a pass-back saw Goram clear just ahead of the on rushing Wieghorst. As play continued Brattbakk shot narrowly wide on the angle. Wieghorst then made the by-line to whip in a tricky cross, but Kemble showed great awareness to head back into the hands of Goram. Lambert had an effort curl well wide, and then Goram had to punch clear under severe pressure as the home side desperately tried to level. In the four-and-a-half minutes of injury time (over 30 seconds longer than the fourth official had indicated) Moravcik had a shot sail over, and Celtic’s last chance fell to Burley but his shot went wide though Goram was covering. Time ran out on Celtic soon after, and the final whistle heralded a courageous, thoroughly deserved win for Motherwell.
Full-time Celtic 0 Motherwell 1