Celts still invincible after mugging ’Well
MOTHERWELL 3 Moult (3, 35), Ainsworth (71) CELTIC 4 McGregor (48), Roberts (70), Armstrong (72), Rogic (90)
FOR 45 minutes, they almost looked human.
But Celtic are still on their way to becoming Scotland’s “Invincibles” after mugging Motherwell with a stunning second-half display.
’Well star Louis Moult’s devastating double had the Champions trailing 2-0 at the interval – and looking utterly lost.
But where lesser teams might have crumbled, Celtic found a way.
Callum McGregor, Patrick Roberts, Stuart Armstrong and Tom Rogic struck to claim yet another victory for Brendan Rodgers side, despite Lionel Ainsworth’s counter for the ’Well.
And the Celtic boss insists his players’ second-half effort bore the hallmark of champions.
“I told them we found something out today – because that was a real challenge,” said Rodgers.
“I didn’t go berserk at half-time. There was none of that. You have to find the issues and the problems and the issues were simple.
“The back four were too deep and that didn’t allow us to press the game. There was too much space. “But how can we find the solution? “It’s massive credit to the players because they accepted that risk. They passed the ball really well, counter-pressed the game really well and the quality of the goals was outstanding.
“I’m delighted for them because, again, it’s another box ticked in terms of being asked a question, coming from 2-0 down to win the game in the second half.
“In terms of our composure, at 2-0 down, our capacity to keep the ball and move it, taking it wide to create space inside, was fantastic.
“The back three, a diamond in midfield and the front three – it gave Motherwell real problems. It was hard for them to cope with.
“So it’s huge credit to the players for the winning mentality and spirit that’s in the team.”
Celtic aren’t often sucker-punched at the start of games.
Under Brendan Rodgers, it had never happened.
Step forward Moult, Motherwell’s gallus hitman, who was gifted a golden chance to land a rare early blow by Stephen McManus’ pinpoint ball three minutes in.
With Kolo Toure – making his first appearance since THAT game against Borussia Monchengladbach – staging an ill-timed attempt at the “mannequin challenge” beneath it, Moult held his nerve to send a delightfully cushioned volley over Craig Gordon’s head.
It was a dream start for the ’Well, chasing their third home win on the bounce, and it would get even better before the break.
The fightback Celtic’s travelling fans expected simply didn’t materialise – and the manager responded by replacing the hapless Emilio Izaguirre with Callum McGregor after half-an-hour.
The sub pulled a goal back for a rejuvenated Celtic just after half-time, but not before Moult doubled the ’Well’s lead with another volley.
With his side 2-0 down, Brendan Rodgers had to roll the dice, and did so at the break, switching to a back three and throwing bodies forward in numbers.
It paid immediate dividends when McGregor played a one-two with Moussa Dembele before slotting past Craig Samson.
When Patrick Roberts headed Stuart Armstrong’s cross home to draw the Bhoys level, a Celtic victory looked increasingly inevitable.
But the whole thing was turned on its head when ’Well sub Lionel Ainsworth, on the park for just two minutes, volleyed his side ahead once again.
Celtic responded instantly, drawing level through the imperious Stuart Armstrong before Tom Rogic profited from Ainsworth’s sloppiness in possession to slam a last-gasp winner past Samson.
“Our first half performance was fantastic,” was frustrated ’Well boss Mark McGhee’s assessment.
“But Brendan would have been saying to his players we’re a team that concedes goals. That’s our problem at the moment.
“We can score goals, we showed that today with three.
“But we lost four and that’s the area where we’ll be working on when we get back on the training ground.”