Idah brings Celts back from brink
On-loan Ireland striker’s late intervention rescues title hopes
WITH three minutes of stoppage time already gone at Fir Park, this had an end-of-days feel to it for Celtic. Not just for their title challenge, but for so many of the players who had contrived to squander an eight-point lead at the top of the Premiership in what feels like the blink of an eye.
You’d have given much more than a penny for the thoughts of the Parkhead club’s directors in those moments.
As another Motherwell clearance seemed set to confirm another two precious points being spilled, sitting on £67.3million can’t have seemed the brightest of ideas.
However, the inquest into how the club have operated this season will have to wait for now.
While you wouldn’t stake an awful lot on this unconvincing Celtic side doing what’s required of them in the 11 remaining games, they are at least hanging in there.
Credit to Adam Idah. The second and final arrival of the January window, it’s fair to say the reaction to the forward’s loan move from Norwich was somewhat underwhelming.
Scorer of two penalties at Easter Road, a thunderous header from the Irishman also turned this game in Celtic’s favour. His conversion of Alistair Johnston’s cross in the 94th minute might well be the decisive moment of this season.
Idah’s intervention came not a moment too soon for Brendan Rodgers. His side were miles off it in the first half. Lethargic, disjointed and wasteful in possession, they got what they deserved when Blair Spittal found the top corner just before the interval.
Liam Scales and Maik Nawrocki were bullied by Theo Bair. Nicolas Kuhn and Daizen Maeda did not strike a blow on the flanks.
With Callum McGregor and Matt O’Riley struggling to offer guile, Kyogo Furuhashi cut a frustrated figure up top. It was stagnant and heading for disaster.
It would be hard to overstate the impact Idah had. Offering pace and a focal point, his presence unsettled Motherwell.
Thrown on around the hour mark, Yang Hyun-jun also made a good case for a regular start. It was the Korean who instigated the move that led to Idah netting in the 94th minute. He still had time to provide an assist for fellow sub Luis Palma to make it 3-1.
Celtic were a long way from perfect. Yet for the second time this season at this venue, they dug it out just when it looked like the clock would beat them. There may be life in their title defence yet.
Unsurprisingly, Rodgers rang the changes from the costly draw with Kilmarnock, with Johnston, Nawrocki, Tomoki Iwata and Kuhn drafted in.
The kind of dominant performance Rodgers so badly needed just did not materialise.
Only the offside flag prevented the visitors falling behind inside three minutes. Bair’s footwork to deceive Scales then Joe Hart was impressive. But the timing of his run to latch on to Lennon Miller’s pass was just out via VAR.
Motherwell looked dangerous whenever they ventured into the final third. Both of Celtic’s central defenders tried to affect the game by stepping into midfield.
Yet a Nawrocki error immediately put his side on the back foot. Vale was next denied by Hart.
Looking far more assured of themselves, Motherwell fashioned another chance when Spittal saw Georgie Gent out of the corner of his eye. The wing-back’s composure deserted him at the crucial moment and the shot sailed over.
Starved of service, Furuhashi was belatedly presented with a chance when O’Riley drilled a low pass into him. Liam Kelly advanced from his line and did the necessary.
Within seconds, the Japanese became the latest man in green and white to make an unforced error. Spittal shuttled the ball to Bair. Hart saved this time but you sensed a goal was coming.
Arriving two minutes before the break, it was a peach. The set-up began with spin on the edge of the Celtic box by Miller. His pass still left Spittal with work to do, but the right-foot finish into the top-left corner was inch perfect.
Furuhashi made way for Idah at the break. Frankly, Rodgers could have made multiple changes.
It paid dividends within six minutes. Working a yard of space on the left, Greg Taylor’s cross fell in between Bevis Mugabi and Dan Casey. Idah seemed to leap six feet off the turf. His flashing header had power and accuracy. Kelly didn’t have a chance.
In the few minutes that followed, Motherwell looked stung. But they came again. Only a terrific fingertip save by Hart prevented Miller restoring their advantage.
It was anyone’s game now. Maeda would have certainly completely the turnaround with a back-post header had Adam Devine not intervened.
The introduction of Yang did offer Rodgers more invention down the right. His first involvement was to find Johnston. The Canadian’s cross left Maeda with just too much to do to convert at the far post. Yang cut out the middle man moments later. This time Maeda did connect with the cross but couldn’t find the target.
Calum Butcher’s first action after replacing Casey was to tug back Idah on the edge of the box at the cost of a booking. O’Riley’s tame free-kick found the wall.
Scales had a flashing header from a corner saved, then Idah failed to hit the target with an easier chance than the one he converted. As the board showed six minutes of stoppage time, it felt like Celtic’s season would come down to this.
Four minutes had been added on when Yang showed commendable composure to pick out the overlapping Johnston. The full-back’s low cross invited Idah to put his laces through it. The calmest of sidefoot finishes saw an eruption of relief and joy.
You had to feel sorry for Motherwell. Having looked good for at least a point for so long, they were shellshocked at losing it so late on. The third goal with pretty much the last action of the game was more salt in the wounds. This time Yang was the provider — his deep cross turned home at the far post by Palma.
The scoreline suggested a comfortable afternoon for the champions. The reality was it could not have been tougher. MOTHERWELL (3-5-2): Kelly 5.5; Mugabi 5.5, Casey 6 (Butcher 73), McGinn 5.5; Devine 6 (O’Donnell 83) Zdravkovski 6, Miller 6 (Shaw 83) Spittal 7, Gent 6 (Blaney 89); Bair 7, Vale 6 (Nicholson 73). Booked: Butcher. Manager: Stuart Kettlewell 6. CELTIC (4-4-2): Hart 6; Johnston 6, Nawrocki 5 (Carter-Vickers 61), Scales 5.5, Taylor 6.5; Iwata 6 (Bernardo 77) McGregor 6, O’Riley 6, Kuhn 5 (Yang 61), Furuhashi 5 (IDAH 46) Maeda 4 (Palma 83). Booked: Taylor, Palma. Manager: Brendan Rodgers 7. Referee: Willie Collum. Attendance: 8,639.