Leaders Celtic beaten by Motherwell

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19 Dec 2015

By Alasdair Lamont BSports Scotland

Motherwell won at Celtic Park for the first time in nearly eight years, coming from behind to do so.

Louis Moult's double turned the game around after Nir Bitton's deflected shot had given the champions the lead.

It means Celtic have failed to win at home in their last four games, the first time that has happened since Tony Mowbray was manager.

They remain a point clear of Aberdeen at the top of the league, while Well's revival under Mark McGhee continues.

The match was prefaced by an emotional unveiling of a statue of Celtic's legendary European Cup-winning captain, Billy McNeill.

The thousands of supporters who gathered for the occasion would have been underwhelmed by what unfolded inside the stadium in the opening 45 minutes.

Their team dominated possession but found Motherwell to be well organised and therefore difficult to penetrate.

But the chess-like approach to the first half could not have been in greater contrast to the action-packed second period.

Nir Bitton (second left) had given Celtic the lead against Motherwell

Lionel Ainsworth should have put Motherwell ahead, but his chip over goalkeeper Craig Gordon also cleared the crossbar.

It looked like Motherwell would pay a hefty price for that as Tom Rogic burst clear, squared for Bitton and the midfielder's shot took a big deflection off Keith Lasley on its way past goalkeeper Connor Ripley.

However, Marvin Johnson, whose pace had already caused Celtic problems, soon fired the ball across goal for Moult to tap into the net.

And the game was turned on its head when Scott McDonald's sharp turn enticed Jozo Simunovic into a rash challenge.

It gave Moult the opportunity to double his and Motherwell's tally, which he duly took, rolling the penalty straight down the middle as Gordon dived to his left.

They could have gone further ahead but for Gordon, who rushed off his line to block from McDonald after Dedryck Boyata got into trouble and then used his left foot to deny Moult a hat-trick.

In between those efforts, Bitton had a shot blocked on the line and Ripley saved from Scott Allan and Kris Commons.

Celtic piled forward in the closing stages but failed to create any further openings as Motherwell celebrated a hard-earned victory.

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (5)

Celtic

01 Gordon
23 Lustig
20 Boyata
05 Simunovic
63 Tierney
06 Bitton Booked
42 McGregor
15 Commons
18 Rogic (Cole - 74' )
49 Forrest (Allan - 67' )
07 Ciftci

Substitutes

03 Izaguirre
04 Ambrose
14 Armstrong
19 Allan
24 Cole
25 Johansen
38 Fasan

Motherwell

01 Ripley
18 Law
32 Hall
06 McManus (Laing - 77' )
03 Hammell
04 Grimshaw (Ainsworth - 45' )
14 Lasley
08 Pearson
11 Johnson
77 McDonald
20 Moult

Substitutes

05 Laing
07 Ainsworth (Watt - 81' )
13 Samson
19 Clarkson
23 Thomas
24 McFadden
28 Watt

Ref: Bobby Madden

Att: 42,603

Match Stats

Possession 61 39

Shots

22 8

On target

6 4

Corners

6 4

Fouls

7 16

Live Text Commentary

Full time

Full Time Match ends, Celtic 1, Motherwell 2.

90:00 +4:24 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Celtic 1, Motherwell 2.

90:00 +4:04

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Luke Watt.

90:00 +3:07

Callum McGregor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90:00 +3:07

Foul by Marvin Johnson (Motherwell).

90:00 +2:27

Attempt blocked. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.