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Disaster

Quick Review

A day that started so well, and ended in disaster for Celtic and their fans.
Celtic knew a win would wrap the title and began the match at a furious rate of knots. Play was scrappy on the muddy surface with Motherwell lacking composure and Celtic in too much of a hurry. The lively Bellamy was denied the opener after exchanging passes with Sutton before firing a low shot which former Marshall spilled on to the post and behind for a corner. John Hartson then sent in a powerful header but Marshall was right behind it.
The breakthrough came when Thompson dispossessed Richie Foran and charged forward to flash the ball across goal. Marshall got down to beat the ball away but, with the Motherwell defence slow to react, Sutton lunged in to shoot home from eight yards.
In the second half, Hartson squandered an opportunity to stretch Celtic's lead, heading a Thompson cross over from close range. Bellamy broke free of the home defence but Marshall made a good one-handed save to stop the Welsh striker's low shot. Marshall again did well to race from his goal and block at the feet of Hartson. And the veteran ex-Celtic keeper made a first class save to stop Hartson's close range half-volley as Celtic poured forward.
Celtic's fans' worst fears were realised when McDonald controlled the ball on his chest and hooked the ball over his shoulder into the top corner of the net. Worse was to follow for Celtic when McDonald squirmed past a couple of challenges and his shot hit a defender and looped over Douglas.

Trivia

Two goals in the final two minutes from Motherwell's Scott McDonald, what can you say. We later signed him.
Ex Celt Gordon Marshall was in the Motherwell Line up too.

Teams

Motherwell:-
Marshall, Corrigan, Craigan, Kinniburgh, Fagan, Foran, Kerr, Fitzpatrick (Clarkson 88), Paterson, Scott McDonald, Hamilton (Britton 85).

Subs not used:- Corr, Higgins, Connolly, Keogh, Smith.

Goals:- Scott McDonald 88, 90.

Booked:- Foran, Craigan.


Celtic:-
Douglas, Agathe, Balde, Varga, McNamara, Petrov, Lennon, Sutton, Thompson, Hartson (Beattie 75), Bellamy.

Subs not used:- Marshall, Valgaeren,Laursen, Lambert, Maloney, McGeady.

Goal:- Sutton 29.

Booked:- Bellamy.

Att:- 12,944

Ref:- H Dallas.

Articles

• Match Report (BBC)
  
• Manager Interview (BBC) - Devastated O'Neill rues finishing.
  

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