2009-02-22: Motherwell 1-1 Celtic, SPLThis is a featured page

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Trivia

  • Draw puts Rangers top on goal difference.
  • We've squandered a 7pt advantage!!!!!
  • We scored our first goal in around 4 games in the SPL, and ditto for conceding.
  • 4-3-3 formation was a flop
  • Motherwell's pitch was more like a farm (no grass on it), ruined due to the freak weather (snow storms etc in the past month).


Quick Review

Dreadful match, possibly the most unentertaining drab we've played in this season and we've had a few poor performances to watch. The pitch was woeful (next to no grass on it) but no excuse and our side made hard work of the advantage we have in our squad. Mwell only had one chance and scored from it. We had a few but squandered it all and blew it all... Terrible and we're now behind the huns in the SPL.


Teams

Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell, Klimpl, O'Brien, Hughes, Fitzpatrick (Murphy 68), Sutton, Clarkson. Subs Not Used: Krysiak, Malcolm, Darren Smith, Lasley, McGarry, Aydilek.
Booked: Klimpl, Hughes.
Goal: Quinn 81

Celtic: (4-3-3)
Boruc, Hinkel, Loovens, McManus, Naylor, Scott Brown, Caldwell, Nakamura, Samaras, McDonald, Vennegoor of Hesselink (McGeady 63).
Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, Hartley, Flood, Crosas, Hutchinson, O'Dea.
Booked: Scott Brown
Goal: McDonald 60


Att: 8,593

Ref: I Brines .


Articles

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:
"It was a 50-50 game where both teams made the best of the conditions.
"Our heads didn't do down after Celtic scored and we dug in, found new reserves and showed a lot of determination to get the equaliser. "Today must be compensation from the disappointment of going out the cup. The fans were different class. "We're doing well at the moment and we'll be after Aberdeen and Hearts and Dundee United, but we are aware of the chasing pack behind us."

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan:
"I couldn't see Motherwell scoring today. They tried hard but didn't have a shot on target apart from the goal.
"We were playing well at the time they scored. At this moment we're not scoring enough goals. "If we'd have taken half our chances today it could've been 5-0. "We had about four or five opportunities in the first half. We need to start scoring goals and that will make it easier for us to retain the league. "If we don't score goals then it's going to be a problem as we saw today."

Pictures

  • Match Pictures

KStreet

MOTM v Motherwell - Shunsuke Nakamura


Stats

MOTHERWELL v CELTIC

Possession
40% 60%
Shots on target
1 8
Shots off target
0 5
Corners
1 1
Fouls
11 12



Late Quinn strike frustrates Celtic

22 February 2009
Provided by: Guardian Unlimited
Celtic stayed in second after squandering chances at Fir Park
If goal difference is to play a defining role in the destination of this season's championship, Gordon Strachan has cause for concern. Rangers, who moved to the top of the table for the first time in three months following their victory over Kilmarnock on Saturday, remained there by a margin of 10 goals after Celtic failed to win here.
Strachan, whose team has lacked a cutting edge in recent weeks, again had cause to point to profligacy as two crucial points were lost. Celtic's manager hardly stands accused of not giving his strikers due opportunity to end their drought. He played all three of his main men from the outset here and Scott McDonald scored his second goal in three games, but Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Georgios Samaras must contribute more.
"It was nothing like a fair result," Strachan said. "At the moment, we can't score goals. Scott is doing well but the rest of the team needs to join in."
On a pitch which would hardly be deemed suitable for rugby, let alone football, entertainment was at a higher level than could be expected. The visitors' midfield was sufficiently reinforced for a bruising encounter by the ­introduction of Gary Caldwell from defence, but McDonald (twice) and Vennegoor of Hesselink failed to turn early dominance into a goal.
When the breakthrough did arrive, ­merited as it was, the surface played a part. McDonald appeared to miss-hit his shot after a mistake from Stephen Craigan but a bobble took the ball beyond Motherwell's goalkeeper, Graeme Smith.
Motherwell seemed as likely to ­equalise as their pitch was to be selected for a lawn bowls competition – Artur Boruc in the Celtic goal had not had a save to make – but they took their opportunity when it arose. Glenn Loovens failed to clear a Jim O'Brien cross and the home full-back Paul Quinn slammed the ball home from 12 yards.
There was time for Strachan's men to push for a winner, but Samaras was again profligate and Scott Brown narrowly failed to round off a superb individual run with a suitable finish.
Motherwell may have moved into the top six but their manager, Mark McGhee, is unwilling to forget their poor performance in being knocked out of the Scottish Cup by St Mirren on Thursday night.
"I said to Gordon before the game that even if we beat his team 10–0 it would not make up for Thursday," McGhee said. "It will take a long time to get that out of the system."
Man of the match Gary Caldwell (Celtic)
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media 2009
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2009. All rights reserved
Guardian Unlimited



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