Derek Riordan came off the bench to secure a victory that takes Celtic to within three points of retaining the Scottish Premier League title. Another forgettable game with poor performances throughout the side. Doesn't seem like a team winning the league.

Trivia
Our first victory for 4 games.
Our first goal from a non-set piece in 4 games also!


Celtic team:- Boruc, Caldwell, Pressley, O'Dea, Naylor, Nakamura, Lennon, Hartley, McGeady, Zurawski (Riordan, 35), Vennegoor of Hesselink (Beattie, 83).

Subs not used:- Brown, Miller, Gravesen, Perrier Doumbe, Bjarnason.

Scorer:- Riordan 52


Motherwell team:- 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.

Referee:- E Smith

Articles

• Match Report

KStreet

• Pre-match
• Match Thread
• MotM - McGeady (Link to MOTM Winners)

Pictures

• Pictures

Bank of Scotland Scottish Premier League Celtic Riordan 52 1-0 (0-0) Motherwell R Bookings:Naylor 50 Bookings:Craigan 33 Kerr 68 CELTICMOTHERWELL Possession 62% 38% Shots on target 2 7 Shots off target 10 6 Corners 5 9 Fouls 12 11

Review of game (PaulJames123 of KStreet forum)
It wasn't terribly good today but we are 3 points closer to the title, one week nearer to the end of the season and hopefully a bit of a rethink over the summer about the way the team plays.

No urgency, no movement, no aggression and no pace.

The goalkeeper had little to do and did it well.

The back four played like they have never met one another. Pressley is a great organiser apparently but today it looked like he couldn't organise a bunk up in a brothel. I don't know how often he got turned by the Motherwell striker today but a half decent team would have destroyed us today. He also has the turning circle of the QE2.

O'Dea started well as did Caldwell before nerves go to the 2 of them and they looked ropey. Caldwell looked like a real bag of nerves but he has been injured for 4 months. How bad must Doumbe be if we'd rather play a centre half recovering from injury out of position instead of him? Naylor was quiet but at least noone assaulted him today.

Lennon and Hartley were playing like they were attached by a piece of string. Lennon was poor and Hartley not much better. Lennon really should go before he further sullies the memory of a fantastic player for Celtic. If he stays for another seaon the memories will be tarnished.

I really wish Hartley would play the easy pass instead of the 'World Cup' pass which consists of him curling it 40 yards over the head of the opposition player at such a pace that the Celtic player either can't bring it down before being tackled or (more frequently) it ends up in the stand. Keep it simple FFS!!!

Naka and McGeady at least give you a bit of creativity but imagine what they could accomplish if they had a bit of quality in the middle of the field to help them. Naka was the quieter of the 2 today but he does offer you something we don't get from anyone else in the team.

Zurawski looked ok before he got snapped. JVoH created 2 gilt edged chances with 2 brilliant knockdowns for Zurawski and Riordan. If only someone was bright enough to repay the compliment we might be in business and scoring goals. Riordan got in the box and scored. He looked lively. Beattie is struggling.