Motherwell surrender points to Celtic in dreadful first half

Sep 17 2008 Wishaw Press

AT half-time on Saturday, many of the Fir Park faithful would have been questioning how wise it had been to book their flights to France to see their team compete this week in their first European tie for 13 years.

They booed their team off, having watched them being mauled by the champions in the first 45 minutes of the ‘contest’.

It was 4-0 going on 8-0 and a cricket score looked on the cards.

But credit must be given to how the Fir Parkers responded in the second half, although they were unable to secure a point.

For any neutrals, this was a brilliant advert for the SPL. Celtic scored four goals in the space of 42 minutes but still Motherwell came forward, continued to play with three men up front and continued to entertain.

Will McGhee be forced to change his system in an effort to prevent his side being overrun like they were in the first half on Saturday when they play the technically proficient French outfit tomorrow evening?

Absolutely not, claimed the Motherwell gaffer after this match. Armchair fans are advised to tune in again tomorrow therefore. A 0-0 scoreline doesn’t seem on the cards.

Shaun Maloney was at the back post to tap the ball into an open net for his first goal since returning to Celtic after just five minutes of Saturday’s lunch-time clash.

Georgios Samaras doubled Celtic's lead four minutes later, when the Greek striker slipped the ball past Graeme Smith from 10 yards after collecting Scott McDonald's lay-off.

After giving the visitors a two-goal start, Motherwell steadied the ship for a while but they still struggled to create clear-cut chances, with John Sutton snatching at two shots, skewing one high and the other well wide.

And just as ’Well were starting to play themselves into the game, they conceded a third goal, with former Fir Park favourite Scott McDonald hitting a first-time shot high into the net from inside the box.

David Clarkson struck an acrobatic overhead kick past Artur Boruc on the half-hour mark, but the Motherwell forward was offside and ‘Well were fortunate not to go further behind when Maloney hit the bar from a well-flighted free-kick.

Celtic’s fourth came minutes before the break and it was a brilliantly constructed goal. McDonald and Samaras combined superbly and the Greek international slotted the ball past the hapless Smith.

McGhee claimed he did not give his charges a hard time during the interval but they came out a different-looking side.

Ten minutes into the half, John Sutton made it three goals in a many starts for his new club, hammering a volley past Boruc.

And Clarkson brought Motherwell right back into the match two minutes later when he slid in to prod the ball under the Celtic goalkeeper.

Porter and Clarkson had opportunities to make it an uncomfortable last half-hour for Celtic but the Hoops hung on.

Despite the final score, the home supporters were given renewed hope that their side can compete with Nancy in a tie that will see them start very much as second-favourites.

After the match McGhee said: “We were outclassed totally in the first half by a very good Celtic team.

“I don't read too much into the second-half comeback - the first half was the barometer I'm looking at and it shows how far we still have to go.

“Some of our play wasn't bad even in the first half, but individually our defending was poor, in particular at the Scott McDonald goal.”

Motherwell : Graeme Smith, Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell, Hughes, Lasley, McGarry (O'Brien 58), Clarkson (Murphy 86), Porter, Sutton.

Subs Not Used: Nielsen, Malcolm, Darren Smith, Fitzpatrick,Connolly.

Booked : Lasley, Craigan, Reynolds.

Celtic : Boruc, Wilson, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Robson, Crosas (Nakamura 80), Scott Brown, Maloney, Samaras, McDonald (Sheridan 86).

Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, McGeady, Loovens, Donati, Caddis.

Booked : McDonald, Robson, Samaras.

Ref : C Thomson.

Attendance: 8407