Celtic 0-1 Motherwell

floody · Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 5:00 pm

Quote:

Celtic's hopes of retaining their SPL title were all but extinguished as they crashed to defeat against 10-man Motherwell at Celtic Park.

Despite dominating for long spells, Gordon Strachan's side failed to score.

Simon Lappin gave Motherwell the lead in the 33rd minute when he clipped the ball home after Artur Boruc palmed away Marc Fitzpatrick's shot.

Bob Malcolm was sent off for a high challenge on Massimo Donati, but Celtic could not find an equaliser.

Celtic, with new first-team coach Neil Lennon in the dugout, made two changes from the side which lost to Rangers.

Massimo Donati replaced Paul Hartley, while leading goalscorer Scott McDonald was restored at the expense of Georgios Samaras, who was relegated to the bench.

Motherwell were without suspended striker David Clarkson, while Steven Hammell was recalled and Keith Lasley dropped to the bench.

Donati spurned an early chance of a low-key opening 10 minutes when he pounced on Paul Quinn's poor backpass, but shot straight at Graeme Smith.

The hosts almost opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's header struck the crossbar from Aiden McGeady's cross.

Lappin gave Motherwell the lead in the 33rd minute in their first threatening attack.

Fitzpatrick's shot was palmed away by Artur Boruc, but Lappin followed up to clip the ball home from a tight angle.

Celtic were lacking a cutting edge as they penned Motherwell into their own half, but could not find an opening.

Bob Malcolm was sent off after raising his studs as he slid into tackle Donati.

McCormack almost doubled Motherwell's lead a minute later, but his wicked shot whistled just over Boruc's bar.

McDonald cut a forlorn figure as he was substituted and replaced by Samaras.

Andreas Hinkel forced Smith into a brilliant save in the 68th minute as Celtic swarmed the Motherwell goal in search of an equaliser.

The hosts continued to press but, apart from McGeady, did not pose a serious threat to Smith's goal.

Ben Hutchinson came on for Hinkel, but the extra forward could not find a goal for the hosts.

Poor result against ten man Well, R.I.P Ronan.

G_Man · Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 5:01 pm

Well done Motherwell.

League is def over unless Dundee United win tomoro

9nufc9 · Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 3:20 am

Quiet game by McDonald - how's his form been recently, Ron?

CFCBhoy · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:17 am

He's been gash recently. Looks completley burnt out. Needs to be left out for a few games for him to, hopefully, regain full fitness.

This result didn't bother me as much until Sunday. If we had've put our chances away, we could have closed the gap a bit and at least made th next two OF games a bit interesting. Rangers dropping points at Dundee just made me despise Strachan even more. He HAS to go at the end of the season. 2 league titles in 2 years is a good acheivement but when there is no competition, it was expected. This season was the fist time he's been tested as Celtic manager and he crumbled. He simply hasn't got what it takes to manage a big club. He's better of with the likes of Southampton

floody · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:00 am

I'd agree with that mate, now Rangers have got their coaching staff and players sorted they are now mounting a serious challenge and Celtic are not dealing with it well at all.

CFCBhoy · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:22 am

Someone needs to come in and get rid of the deadwood. Majority of Celtic fans want someone 'Celtic-minded' come in ie. Mowbray, Moyes, Keane, etc but I think I'd prefer it if we widened our horizons. Take a chance on someone foreign. If we were to bring in an SPL manager, they'd just sign then same pish that Strachan has been buying where I'm certain there are better players for less abroad. A foreign manager would know where to look.

Hinkel, Henrik, Boruc, Morav��k all combined cost less than Scott Brown Shocked

floody · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:24 am

I don't think Moyesd would go to be honest but you might be right on the foreign manager front.

Any names you have in mind?

CFCBhoy · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:52 am

Although he's unproven, I wouldn't have many complaints about Billic. Would ideally prefer someone with a bit more experience though and Van Gaal or Hiddink would be great shouts.

Conicedentally, theres a poll running on the Celtic forum Laughing

a few crazy one's

Who do you THINK will be Celtic manager next season
Sam Allardyce
Slaven Bili�
Tommy Burns
Steve Clarke
Chris Coleman
John Collins
Alan Curbishley
Avram Grant
Peter Grant
Ottmar Hitzfeld (Pencilled in to be Swiss manager in July)
Roy Hodgson
Gerard Houllier
Mark Hughes
Martin Jol
Paul Lambert
Neil Lennon
Craig Levein
Marcello Lippi
Roy Keane
Mick McCarthy
Mark McGhee
Steve McLaren
Jose Mourinho
Tony Mowbray
Davie Moyes
David O'Leary
Martin O'Neill
Harry Redknapp
Gordon Strachan
Someone else - UK or Ireland
Someone else - European
Someone else - Rest of World
My right ball (with the left as his assistant)
Guus Hiddink

9nufc9 · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 1:54 pm

Hiddink and Lippi Laughing

I'm sure you'd love O'Dreary Rolling Eyes

CFCBhoy · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 2:05 pm

Mourinho's there too Laughing

G_Man · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 2:27 pm

Martin Jol would be class.