ALL ABOUT A MATT FINISH
O’riley bags 97th minute Celts winner as Rodgers hails spirit
BY MICHAEL GANNON
BRENDAN RODGERS hailed his Hoops for conjuring up some famous Celtic lastgasp magic with a dramatic late win at Motherwell.
The Parkhead boss was beaming after Matt O’riley grabbed a 97th minute winner at Fir Park – just hours after announcing a new four year deal.
Sub Luis Palma thought he’d sealed it with his first Celtic goal with just three minutes to go before Blair Spittal levelled for the Steelmen deep in to stoppage time.
The Hoops pounced again amid chaotic scenes with pitch invasions after the goals for BOTH sides.
Security staff eventually got the punters back in the stands to avoid further scenes and Rodgers admitted he was thrilled with the old-school late, late show.
He said: “It was a great response by the players. Incredible mentality. I said to them afterwards that this club’s history is built on many late goals.
That’s what Celtic does. But you have to have that will and desire to keep going.
“I thought we dominated the game. Credit to Motherwell because they were very tight and compact, low in the pitch.
“You’re not going to get it all your own way so you’ve got to be patient.
“You have to keep going right to the death. That’s what my teams have always done. That’s what Celtic does.
“You still need the players to deliver and play with that calmness.
“You’ve got to keep believing you’ll get something from the game.
“It’s brilliant for the supporters because they see how this team will keep fighting to the end.
“It’s the beginnings of any good team, when you have that strength and personality to keep going.”
Rodgers was delighted O’riley bagged the winner to take his tally to five for the season and surpass last term’s total.
The midfielder has committed to the club – along with Parkhead pals such as Reo Hatate – and the manager said: “I’m so, so happy for him. He gets out of the game what he puts into it, he’s so professional, he has big quality, and like I said when I came in, we just needed to get more goals into his game.
“In fairness to him, his timing and his finishing is quality. It was a big goal.
“He will only get better, he’s only 22.”
Rodgers was also pleased for Palma (left) – even if his goal had a hint of fortune.
The boss said: “Aye it was a great cross! Nah, it’s great for him, he’s adapting like the other new players. This is a level of intensity that they’re not used to.
“That will be massive for him. It’s a great cross in, he can do that, he plays it in and we were happy when it found the corner.”
Security staff had to pile in amid the mayhem at the end and Rodgers said: “That’s not what we would want of course. You understand a little bit with the lateness of the goals and what that brings to it, so you have to think of the context of it all as well.”
“I was just waiting for someone to take me off !
“Nah listen, it’s a massive moment and that’s football, isn’t it? That’s the emotion.
“I pulled my calf the last time I did that, so it was okay.”