Celtic secured the narrowest of wins – but still ensured the gap between them and Rangers remained as wide as seven points in the title race with yet another victory at Fir Park.
Kyogo’s close-range finish before Daizen Maeda added a second kept the champions’ lead at the summit of the Scottish Premiership intact. Even a fine Ross Tierney goal late on for Motherwell couldn’t spoil Ange Postecoglou’s night after a close-run clash that finished 2-1.
Motherwell had a fine chance to open the scoring with just two and a half minutes on the clock. Reo Hatate gave the ball away to Kevin van Veen, who seized upon it, rounded Joe Hart before firing the ball off the right-hand post. It didn’t take all that long for the net to be bulged, although it was at the other end. Matt O’Riley was played in and despite losing control of the ball at first, he won it back before squaring for Kyogo for the simplest of tap-ins. It was the Japanese star’s fifth goal in five games.
The home side weren’t just a goal down a tad later. They were also Bevis Mugabi down, too, with the centre-back forced off through injury and replaced by Sondre Solholm. By goodness, they nearly drew level with 10 minutes left on the first-half clock. Hart was well up the park and Callum Slattery saw his chance. He attempted a David Beckham by belting the ball from the halfway line but his accuracy was off and Hart was relieved. No need to feel discomfort at the role of sweeper keeper this time.
Ten minutes into the second half and Celtic were 2-0 up – for a moment or two anyway. Kyogo fired a wondrous crossfield pass to Jota who then supplied a sublime, dinked finish over Liam Kelly. But it was dubiously blown for offside and a few seconds later and was quickly claimed as so by VAR.
Giorgos Giakoumakis – on for Kyogo – had a great chance to really make it game over with 15 minutes left but he couldn’t get the ball on target following a fine ball from Jota. Motherwell so nearly hit back straight away but Louis Moult’s downward header hit the turf before bouncing just off target. It was endless, breathless stuff, punctuated only by a crunching challenge on Carl Starfelt.
Finally, it was 2-0 to Celtic and it was thanks to two subs. David Turnbull’s surging run down the right before picking out Maeda with pintpoint accuracy was only matched by the Japanese striker’s finish, him rolling the ball coolly under Kelly. And that was that. Or was it. Just minutes later Ross Tierney’s volley brilliantly beat Hart all ends up and suddenly Well sensed a chance.
Here are three talking points from Fir Park...
Title deeds
Look, Postecoglou was right on Tuesday – just as he was correct this time last year. Titles aren’t won in October or November. But what the Celtic manager will know deep down is they can be lost. And right now all Celtic are doing is making sure that isn’t the case with them. They are relentless this calendar year – losing only one Scottish Premiership match. Even when you think they are in trouble, late goals ride to their rescue. This isn’t a coincidence. Good teams never give up. The Celtic juggernaut continues to roll on and on.
Kyogoal
It was only three weeks ago Kyogo had been dismissed as enduring some kind of personal crisis, the striker not having scored for three games. Back then the scene was again Fir Park and Kyogo had spurned a few chances. But, as they say, form is temporary and class is permanent. Because all of a sudden – bang – the ball was in the back of the net and the Japanese was off and running again. The heat was on him purely because of his own high standards but he slapped down the critics with that strike and hasn’t looked back since. Kyogo has now scored 11 goals against Well, who must hate the sight of him.
Well runs dry
Steven Hammell had spoken pre-match about the belief his team needs to beat Celtic – that nothing is impossible. Of course it isn’t but it sure is unlikely. At this rate anyway. Well have now gone more than 40 games against Celtic without a win, a run stretching all the way back to 2011. Sure there were some draws punctuating all those losses but their record against the champions and league leaders is going to have to change – and fast – or Hammell’s words will feel more and more hollow.
