IC FOUR BETFRED LEAGUE CUP FINAL

inside and bend a precise left-foot curler into the net.

It was a brilliant finish matched just seconds later by a magnificent save from Gordon as Robinson’s players roared straight upfield in search of a leveller.

Moult’s flashing near-post header was powerful but the keeper thrust up an arm to block.

Right there and then it looked to be a clinching moment and that feeling was cemented when the contest was effectively finished just before the hour.

Dembele’s reverse pass sent Sinclair darting in behind Kipre in the box.

The defender grabbed out to halt the run and as the winger hit the deck, Thomson felt the brush was enough to warrant a spot-kick. It was soft. Kipre was dismayed and that turned to horror when the referee whipped out a red card.

Dembele was composed from 12 yards to hammer the penalty straight down the middle (inset) and Motherwell were aggrieved.

It was finished. Two goals and a man down to anyone is hard enough. Against this Celtic sideit’s mission impossible.

Sub Leigh Griffiths hit a post and team-mates lined up for pots at goal.

The silverware was secure at that point, it was just a matter of scoreline.

Rodgers, once again, was in the driving seat and steering to success. SCOTT SINCLAIR last night shot down dive claims in the wake of Celtic’s Betfred League Cup triumph – as Motherwell stopper Peter Hartley accused him of conning referee Craig Thomson.

The Parkhead side lifted the first major silverware of the season with their 2-0 success at Hampden Park.

Thomson gave the decision after Sinclair went down in the box under challenge from defender Cedric Kipre (above) and also red carded the stopper.

SPECIAL WON Brendan Rodgers with his tropohy aps masnagerbat Coeltic