Taylor warns Bhoys they must perform better

points after a Josip Juranovic own goal had cancelled out Kyogo Furuhashi’s opener.

However, Taylor admits the Parkhead outfit, who had captain Callum McGregor sent off in the 90th minute for bringing down substitute Ross Tierney after an error from Hatate, did not hit anything close to the heights they are capable of and need to get back into top gear quickly with the campaign reaching a crucial point.

‘I think we were good in spells in the game,’ he said. ‘Probably first half, we were strong for the majority of it with a breakdown of communication for the goal and gave them a lifeline, so it was going to be a tense affair and we managed to get a great goal from Reo. From there on in, it was scrappy. It’s the start of an intense period where you can shape your season, fighting in three competitions until the break, so it was important to start that off with a win.

‘Performances are just as important, though, and we know we can be a lot better.

‘There’s nothing bigger than the Champions League, so we know we need to be better on Wednesday. Hopefully, we’ll rest up, recover and be ready to go because it’s going to be a difficult game.

‘We’ve had two strong performances in the Champions League, albeit without the results we need, but we have four more games to make our mark.

‘The St Mirren game was disappointing, the performance as well as result, so it was important to get back to winning ways and we did that, but there are a lot of improvements to be made.’

McGregor was sent packing by referee John Beaton after Hatate had failed to find the Celtic captain with a backpass and left the Motherwell attacker through on goal. However, the Parkhead club may yet appeal as it looked like Stephen Welsh was in a position to put in a challenge.

Taylor admits Hatate was furious with himself over the incident.

‘He was very apologetic, which he didn’t have to be because he’s the reason we won the game,’ said the Scotland defender. ‘It probably bodes well because he’s got high standards within himself but nobody was expecting an apology because he was outstanding today.’

Motherwell manager Stevie Hammell, meanwhile, felt his side could have taken something from the match — and bemoaned the failure to close down Hatate at the deciding goal in the 64th minute.

‘We are disappointed,’ said Hammell. ‘I feel a little frustrated and believe, in the latter part of the game, we could have been better.

‘We had chances, but the fine details and the big moments have to be better when you come to places like this.

‘The goal is the corner routine that they do. It was something we highlighted. They did it quickly, but we showed (our players) that, so it shouldn’t have come as a surprise.

‘Of course, he has to score from 25 yards, which is difficult, but the quality, from their point of view, is what makes the difference.’

GREG TAYLOR last night warned his stuttering Celtic team-mates that they have to up their game for Wednesday’s Champions League visit to RB Leipzig and the many tests the league campaign will bring in the build-up to the break for the World Cup next month.

The Premiership champions bounced back from a shock defeat to St Mirren last time out with a 2-1 home win over Motherwell at Parkhead yesterday — with a sensational Reo Hatate strike earning the