Quinn makes point with late equaliser

Feb 25 2009 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

THIS match was never going to be a classic by any means, given the sandpit that is the Fir Park pitch.

But whenever the Old Firm are in town there is always a nervous sense of anticipation for the ’Well faithful, a sense that their side could be on the end of a hiding or indeed they could spring a surprise that invariably has significant repercussions at the top of the SPL.

Thankfully, after an insipid performance against St Mirren last Thursday that cost the Lanarkshire club a place in the last eight of the Scottish Cup, it was the latter.

Before this game, Motherwell boss Mark McGhee claimed the pitch would not have a major influence on the result but he was wrong. He accepted it would affect the style of the game, with midfielders being rendered redundant for long spells of this game, mainly by Motherwell, as both sides opted to play three men upfront.

Celtic’s goal in this contest had a large element of good fortune to it, even if it was well deserved.

Scorer Scott McDonald – who else. Assist – the Fir Park pitch. On the hour mark, goalkeeper Artur Boruc punted a ball straight up the park which was not dealt with by Motherwell skipper Stephen Craigan who had otherwise savoured the hustle-and-bustle nature of this contest.

Inevitably, former ’Well striker McDonald fastened on to Craigan’s error before turning Mark Reynolds and hitting a weak shot that Graeme Smith seemed to have covered low to his left.

Just as the ball appeared to be heading straight at a diving Smith, it took a cruel skip off the turf, bouncing over the keeper and into the net.

On reflection, it was probably the least Celtic deserved. Any football on display was played by the champions.

Indeed the visitors showed that decent football could still be played on this pitch after just four minutes when McDonald just failed to finish off a superb move involving Lee Naylor and Georgios Samaras, shooting over the bar from 12 yards out.

The diminutive forward has scored in every return to his former club since his move to Celtic in 2007.

However, it’s probably time for the Motherwell support to lay off him as it does their team no favours whatsoever.

The jeers and whistles which greet his every touch seem to galvanise Celtic’s main hitman and again he produced a lively and productive performance.

Booing former players is a custom inbred in almost all fickle football fans but to verbally bash a player for choosing to go to a club that regularly wins league championships and faces up to European powerhouses such as Manchester United and AC Milan almost ever season is surely going a step too far.

Gordon Strachan felt that this result was in no way fair.

Unsurprisingly Mark McGhee saw it differently.

His side enjoyed a fair share of possession but failed to make any significant chances.

Celtic on the other hand made a string of chances but failed to convert.

Motherwell’s only shot on target saw them equalise with nine minutes remaining; ten out of ten for efficiency.

A free-kick to the left of the Celtic penalty area was quickly taken by Steven Hammell who fed former Celt Jim O’Brien.

His cross was missed by everyone and landed at the feet of Paul Quinn. The right-back latched on to the loose ball before sclaffing a left-footed shot low into Boruc’s left-hand corner.

For their sheer tenacity and bloody-minded approach, it could be argued the home side merited a point but on an even surface it would have been a major shock if Celtic had not come away with all three points.

In the long term, the pitch may well hinder the Fir Parker’s chances of staying in the top six of the SPL.

However on this occasion, despite the nature of McDonald’s goal, it helped them garner a bonus point that could be crucial come the split.

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: 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.

Attendance: 8593.

Referee: I Brines.