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Quick Review

Celtic took some time to warm up on a bitterly cold day in Glasgow - but they put Motherwell under pressure in the fifth minute. Chris Sutton flicked on Jackie McNamara's cross, and Aiden McGeady pounced inside the box to get a shot away only for David Partridge to save his side with an important deflection wide. McGeady showed the form which relegated Juninho back to the bench with a bit of trickery but his cross-cum-shot was saved by Ex-Celt, Marshall.
Celtic produced by far their best move of the game to go ahead in the 29th minute. Hartson played the ball up to Sutton and his pass sent Stilian Petrov away through the middle. The Bulgarian cut inside and even though Marshall got a hand to his strike he could not prevent the ball from finishing in the back of the net.
Celtic were far from their best but they still looked the more likely side to hit the back of the net at the start of the second half. McGeady picked out Hartson in the area in the 52nd minute but his knock-down picked out nobody to reflect the quality of the encounter.
Motherwell did not offer much in attack and it was careless play in midfield by Scott McDonald which was exploited by Celtic in the 56th minute. Sutton timed his run perfectly and Thompson played him through to coolly steer the ball around Marshall and into the bottom corner of the net.
Hartson came within inches of extending Celtic's lead in the 73rd minute but Marshall was able to touch his effort around the post.

Trivia

A goal in each half let Celtic open up a six-point lead over Rangers.
Ex-Celt Gordon Marshall lined up in goal for Motherwell, while Barry John Corr was reserve keeper.

Teams

Celtic:-
Douglas, McNamara, Balde, Varga, Laursen, Petrov, Lennon, Thompson, McGeady (Camara 77), Hartson (Juninho Paulista 71), Sutton.

Subs Not Used:- Marshall, Lambert, Wallace, Lawson, McManus.

Goals:- Petrov 32, Sutton 57.


Motherwell:-
Marshall, Craigan, Corrigan, Partridge, Hammell, Scott McDonald, McBride, Paul Quinn, Paterson (Fitzpatrick 69), Clarkson (Fagan 69), Foran (Wright 84).

Subs Not Used:- Corr, Kinniburgh, Higgins, Keogh.

Att:- 58,438

Ref:- I Fyfe

Articles

• Match Report (BBC)
  
• Manager Interview (BBC) - O'Neill 'satisfied' with victory.
  

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