Hungry Hoops get set for Borussia with a Steelmen starter
AHEAD of their tasty Champions League game with Borussia Mönchengladbach, Celtic did a nice job of showing that their appetite for all competitions remains undiminished.
For what this victory lacked in terms of swagger – their last two wins over the Steelmen were by 7-0 and 5-0 – it made up for in application.
“I said to the players before the game, for us to succeed it is not just about us being hungry it is about us being starving,” said Brendan Rodgers.
“The moment when you think things are gone is when you have to really, really push yourself. That’s when you have to fight.
“For our second goal today the ball looked like it was dead in that it was going to the keeper but Moussa Dembele, with his endeavour, quality and mindset, made something for himself, he won a penalty and then tucked it away well.
“And that was just a perfect example of the spirit in the team, in that they will chase everything. They are going to run, they are going to work.”
That they did with James Forrest absolutely burning his way past Motherwell’s teenage pair Ross McLean and Jack McMillan for the opener.
His low cross inside was freshaired by Dembele, but the danger wasn’t over for the visitors.
For following in behind was the prolific Scott Sinclair, who swept home the ball for the opening goal of the afternoon and his eighth of the season.
Even before then Motherwell had had their warning, with Dembele testing Craig Samson twice in the space of a minute.
The keeper had done well, too. He threw himself full length to turn the first effort behind for a corner and then, from the set piece, push the Frenchman’s headed effort over the crossbar.
With an advantage established, Celtic relaxed and were soon playing quick 1-2s in and around the opposition box.
Sometimes they had help – McMillan’s mistake provided another opportunity for Dembele who steered a shot onto the base of the post.
Sometimes they didn’t need it – Kieran Tierney brought the crowd to their feet when slaloming his way in from the wing leaving Scott McDonald, Richard Tait and Ben Heneghan in his wake before slamming a shot onto the crossbar.
“I was clapping when he hit the bar and so was Broony (Scott Brown),” said Liam Henderson, drafted in to allow the manager to rest Tom Rogic, who had travelled to Australia and Saudi Arabia in quick succession.
“Kieran has that in his locker. Even though he is a defender who is known for his tackling and aggression he has unbelievable technique and ability too.”
To make things worse for a youthful Motherwell, who in fairness were tidy in possession, McDonald suffered an injury while trying to stop him and didn’t reappear after the interval.
He wasn’t the only one either. McMillan also had to make way for David Ferguson, his game ended by a hamstring pull that made almost everyone in the stadium wince.
Celtic’s changes, meanwhile, had the same effect on visiting supporters.
Off came Cristian Gamboa and Stuart Armstrong, on went Patrick Roberts and Leigh Griffiths – the former a £12 million player, the latter Scotland’s top goal scorer last season.
For Griffiths, who has also had to watch on from the sidelines with Scotland due to Gordon Strachan’s desire to get height in his team, it was a chance to show what he could do . B ut while he showed plenty of intent he was eclipsed by Dembele, the man keeping him out of the starting line-up.
The Frenchman it was who, running on to a toe poke through from Scott Brown, teased Craig Samson into a foul in the Motherwell box.
Against a backdrop of complaints from the visitors protesting the award, he took the penalty kick himself, converting with practiced ease for his 13th goal of the season.
Better will be required against the Bundesliga outfit on Wednesday but, as the draw with Manchester City showed, Celtic are certainly capable of it.
Mikael Lustig and Nir Bitton, who both missed yesterday’s match with knocks, will train today and should be OK for Wednesday’s tie.