Scottish Premiership
Sunday, August 30, 2020
Celtic Park

CELTIC…3
(Forrest 40, Ajeti 75, Jullien 90+2)

MOTHERWELL…0

CELTIC returned to winning ways with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Motherwell at Paradise today (Sunday), on an afternoon which saw James Forrest net his first strike of the 2020/21 campaign, Albian Ajeti come off the bench with another goal, and centre-back Christopher Jullien get his name on the scoresheet late on with a wicked overlap from deep within his half.

While it was the visitors who got things underway, Celtic quickly assumed control of the match in its opening stages, passing well and pressing Motherwell deep into their defensive third. The first half-chance of the afternoon fell to Mohamed Elyounoussi after five minutes, when he collected a loose ball following an out-swinging Hatem Elhamed cross, but couldn’t keep his volleyed effort down.

The Hoops dominated much of the opening 10 minutes, however as the game begun to open up, Stephen Robinson’s men duly stepped out from the back – with Motherwell defender Liam Grimshaw testing Vasilis Barkas from 18-yards after some neat link-up play on the edge of the home side’s penalty box nine minutes in.

Despite their advances on this occasion, Celtic regained control of possession as they sought to break the deadlock. On 19 minutes, Grimshaw came to his side’s rescue at the opposite end, when Callum McGregor’s lovely weighted chip from the edge of penalty area towards James Forrest was intercepted by the full-back at full-stretch six yards from goal.

To Motherwell’s credit, they defended tightly and with discipline, fighting for every scrap as the first half entered its final quarter-hour. With just five minutes until the break, however, Celtic’s overload proved too much for the Steelmen when Forrest netted his first competitive goal of the 2020/21 campaign – bursting onto a McGregor through-ball following a fierce counter, and firing the ball across and beyond Trevor Carson in goal.

Celtic entered the break deserving of their lead, and returned to press the game once again in the second period. Mohamed Elyounoussi made way for striker Patryk Klimala, while Christie dropped deeper in order to provide support at the top end of the pitch.

On 53 minutes, this switch almost paid off with another goal, when Christie whipped the ball across the penalty box between the Well keeper and last defender. Substitute Klimala, however, was inches away from making a connection.

Ahead of the hour mark, and a similar situation unfolded when Greg Taylor won possession at the by-line, zipped a pass across the face of goal, but the Polish striker was outmuscled a few yards out and the pressure was cleared by the visitors.

After entering play on 70 minutes, Albian Ajeti (on for Olivier Ntcham) almost got on the scoresheet minutes later when Jeremie Frimpong (on for Taylor 10 minutes before) cut back from the by-line to the right of goal, but the striker’s ensuing effort was blocked for a corner.

Minutes after that again, and the Swiss forward did make it two when Kris Ajer fed him in unmarked 12 yards from goal and battered an effort to the left of the goalkeeper. Less than a minute after that, and Klimala had the chance to put the match out of sight when he capitalised on a defensive error, stopped only by the outstretched foot of Carson between the sticks.

Not short of chances, the nine-in-a-row champions’ next opportunity fell to first half scorer Forrest, who came in off the left flank to send a curling effort high of the mark via the top of the crossbar.

Into the final five minutes of normal time, and it seemed the visitors had little left in the tank, opting for long balls at every turn sent deep into Celtic’s defensive third. In turn, Christopher Jullien swept up everything in his path as he turned defence into attack – the Frenchman even managed to get himself on the scoresheet with a devastating overlap and strike two minutes into added time, with Frimpong the provider.

Three goals without reply for Neil Lennon’s men, who more than earned maximum points on their return to Scottish Premiership action.

CELTIC: Barkas; Elhamed, Jullien, Ajer, Taylor (Frimpong 62); Brown, McGregor, Forrest, Ntcham (Ajeti 70), Elyounoussi (Klimala 46); Christie
Subs not used: Bain, Bitton, Soro, Turnbull, Harper, McInroy

MOTHERWELL: Carson; Grimshaw, Mugabi, Gallagher, Lamie (White 69); O’Donnell, Campbell, O’Hara, Polworth; Long (Hylton 88), Watt (Lang 59)
Subs not used: Morrison, Hastie, MaGuire, Seedorf, Robinson, Cornelius

Website Man of the Match: James Forrest

Confident Celts return to winning ways against Motherwell