CFC 0 MFC 1

Scottish Premier League
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC v MOTHERWELL

CELTIC (4-4-2) Boruc; Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor; Nakamura, Donati, Brown, McGeady; Vennegoor of Hesselink, McDonald.
Subs: M Brown, Wilson, Sno, Samaras, Hutchinson, Robson, Hartley.
MOTHERWELL (4-3-3) Smith; Quinn, Reynolds, Craigan, Hammell; Hughes, Lappin, Malcolm; Fitzpatrick, McCormack, Porter.
Subs: Daniels, McLean, Lasley, McGarry, Smith, Murphy, Archdeacon.

Long ball lifted forward by Naylor for Brown. Midfielder attempts to play in Vennegoor of Hesselink, but can't control the ball.

Good ball into the box from the left by McGeady, eventually cleared at the back post by Lappin.

Quick push forward by Celtic. Nakamura tees up Brown on the edge of the box, Brown's shot goes fractionally high and wide.

N.B. Change in formation for Motherwell today, with the Fir Park club breaking from the norm and going with one up front.
MOTHERWELL (4-5-1) Smith; Quinn, Reynolds, Craigan, Hammell; Lappin, Fitzpatrick, Hughes, Malcolm, McCormack; Porter.
Subs: Daniels, McLean, Lasley, McGarry, Smith, Murphy, Archdeacon.

Massimo Donati gets an earful from Scott McDonald after cutting along the byline, beating his man and opting to shoot instead of teeing up the unmarked McDonald at the near post. Good play, but a poor choice from the Italian.

Another good chance from Celtic, Vennegoor of Hesselink lay-off for Naka, whose first time shot is flashed over the bar.

Good play from Celtic. Two balls into the box from Naylor dealt with by the defence, Hinkel then attempts to control the loose ball. Motherwell clear but Scott Brown stops the counter dead in its tracks with a great blocking run after sprinting back to cover.

Another good attack from Celtic with Donati at the heart of it. His cut back for McDonald is narrowly snuffed out.

Malcolm fails to win a challenge with Brown that was at least 70-30 in his favour. The ball finds McGeady on the left and his cross is aimed for Vennegoor of Hesselink on the edge of the six yard box. The Dutchman's header comes back off the crossbar!

The referee and linesman fail to spot what appeared to be a swing at Donati by Bob Malcolm.

Free kick from Nakamura, from around 28 yards out, lifted over the bar.

Nakamura wastes a good ball into the box by McGeady, failing to get any power or direction on his shot from inside the box.

Referee bizarrely awards a free kick for Motherwell after Hinkel did well to get in front of McCormack and shield the ball.

Good cross from McGeady is collected by the keeper under pressure from Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Great play from McGeady on the left, his cross is deflected onto the head of Vennegoor of Hesselink. But the striker can't keep the ball down.

Scott McDonald fails to make the right connection with his shot, after being set up by Vennegoor of Hesselink.

SECOND HALF KICKS OFF

Shunsuke Nakamura receives treatment for an injury.

Shot from McCormack from the edge of the box lifted fractionally over the bar.

Good attack by Crltic, built on McDonald's perseverance, is cleared by the Motherwell defence.

Nakamura fires a shot straight at Smith from the edge of the box.

Great play from Celtic! Naylor does well to find Nakamura with a lovely lay off. His crossfield pass finds Hinkel, whose cross is flashed across goal, tantalisingly close to Vennegoor.

Porter catches Naylor with an elbow as he challenges for a long ball.

Celtic maintain the pressure. With Motherwell forced into last ditch defending to clear their lines.

CELTIC SUBSTITUTION: McDonald off for Samaras.

OFFICIAL ATTENDANCE: 58,624

Crossfield pass by Nakamura. McGeady cuts in and fires a shot along the deck from 25 yards out, which clips the outside of the post.

Graeme Smith sarcastically applauds the referee as he is shown a yellow card for timewasting.

CELTIC SUB - Robson on for Donati.

Overhead kick from Hinkel touched over the bar by Smith.

Long range effort from McGeady collected by Smith.

McGeady leaves two men sprawling on the deck with a great sprint, but the move comes to nothing.

MOTHERWELL SUB - Murphy on for McCormack

Barry Robson brought down by Craigan in front of goal. Substitute steps up to take - but his shot flashes over the bar.

MOTHERWELL SUB - McLean on for Quinn.

CELTIC SUB - Hinkel off, Hutchinson on.

FULL TIME - Celtic 0 Motherwell 1