Celtic 4-0 Motherwell

Celtic beat Motherwell 4-0 as they returned to profitable methods regardless of a below-par efficiency within the Scottish Premiership.

After drawing at Dundee United final trip, the Hoops appeared to maneuver nearer to the highest of the desk with a fifteenth league win of the season.

It was a tough begin from the champions, with Motherwell calling for a penalty when Tawanda Maswanhise fell below a problem from Hyun-Jun Yang early on, however VAR cleared the striker.

Yang then gained a Celtic penalty simply earlier than the break when he collided with Effectively goalkeeper Aston Oxborough. The penalty was confidently transformed by Arne Engels.

Daizen Maeda nodded of their second sport after the break, with Nicolas Kuhn and Reo Hatate coming off the bench so as to add to make the scoreline extra snug.

Celtic stay clearly on the high of the desk with 47 factors. Motherwell are 21 factors behind in fifth.

Who can cease Celtic?

Each managers made 4 adjustments for the primary Boxing Day match at Celtic Park since 2010.

Celtic had Cameron Carter-Vickers again from harm whereas Liam Gordon was amongst these moved to the Motherwell bench.

The primary flashpoint got here in and across the Celtic field when Yang hit the again of Tawanda Maswanhise, who fell. Referee Ross Hardie booked the Motherwell striker for simulation and the sport progressed shortly.

There was a prolonged VAR verify on the different finish after Kofi Balmer raised his hand as a cross flew in for a objective kick. The officers took their time in search of a handball however no hit was evident.

Oxborough made the primary save 20 minutes after Maeda despatched a unfastened ball in the direction of objective.

The Premiership leaders had a greater probability after Motherwell missed two set-piece possibilities in fast succession and Lennon Miller’s slip inadvertently sparked a counter-attack.

Oxborough saved Maeda’s shot together with his foot and the goalkeeper and a number of other defenders finally made the ball secure.

Motherwell appeared usually stable and Adam Idah was unable to take advantage of two half possibilities.

The staff’s half-time chatter was altered when Hardie pointed to the spot after Yang jumped previous Oxborough, punched the ball in the direction of the byline and crashed to the bottom because the objective stretched out his arms to get better a deflected cross.

The award was awarded after a VAR verify and Engels despatched Oxborough the fallacious method from the purpose.

There have been additional penalty appeals after the break, with Balmer getting away with a dangerous contact on Maeda because the winger got here out of the field and Maswanhise calling closely for handball in opposition to Carter-Vickers.

Celtic had an enormous let-up when former Hoops striker Tony Watt inadvertently blocked Marvin Kaleta’s header on the objective line and the hosts shortly scored from their very own nook within the 57th minute. Liam Scales unleashed Engels’ supply and Maeda raced dwelling from shut vary.

If Motherwell’s gamers nonetheless held out hope of getting one thing out of the sport, the sight of Kuhn, Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi coming into the sphere in a triple substitution within the 63rd minute may have examined their confidence.

Kaleta confirmed loads of ambition with an explosive run to serve Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, however the Motherwell sub dragged his shot effectively broad.

Any doubts have been put to relaxation within the 74th minute when Kuhn collected Anthony Ralston’s sq. ball and fired a shot from 25 yards which deflected broad off Balmer and previous Oxborough.

Hatate intervened within the 81st minute. The Japanese midfielder made house from 22 yards out after a number of fast passes and fired into the underside nook.

“Nice” victory for Rodgers

Celtic director Brendan Rodgers discuss to Sky Sports activities Information:

“I am actually completely satisfied, we needed to be persistent at present. I assumed Motherwell have been very effectively organized in that first half and we needed to transfer them round and work them. When a staff is recent, in fact it is It is the lengthy sport that counts.

“We get the penalty earlier than half-time which is an effective time to attain. Arne finishes it rather well. Within the second half I assumed we actually dominated the sport, upped the tempo and had possibilities to attain objectives.

“We did that and we may have had a number of extra. So general, protecting a clear sheet, scoring 4 objectives, creating the probabilities that we had and dominating like we did, it is very nice.”

Kettlewell pissed off by ‘comfortable’ penalty

Mom effectively chief Stuart Kettlewell on Sky Sports activities Information:

“We all know we gave up the ball, however I assumed we defended resolutely, we have been effectively organized. We have been good, out of possession.

“The Celtics clearly acquired a penalty at that time – at first look, I felt prefer it was actually, actually comfortable. Perhaps I will see different angles of it, however I undoubtedly did not felt there was sufficient to justify the way in which the Celtic participant fell.

“It is a huge second for them, is not it, the stroke of half-time. And I used to be pissed off with objectives two and three.

“We’ve to cease this one in a short time as a result of it turns into a unique sport. It is also an enormous activity to play in opposition to Rangers in a number of days.”

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