Credit it where it’s due first of all. There aren’t many teams who have faced up to Celtic as well as Motherwell did in that first half this evening.
The difference in the opening 45 minutes was the touch of class and composure that £9 million buys you. Oh and the best academy graduate since Paul McStay.
Odsonne Edouard scored his goal at the second attempt. Griffiths did well to nick the ball from Liam Donnelly before getting it to McGregor and as I saw my 9/1 first goal scorer bet flash into action Calmac decided to go all team player and feed Edouard on the edge of the box.
French Eddy instead of playing Calmac back in, decided to be far too selfish and took a shot. Despite his initial attempt being blocked the greedy Parisian still refused to return the favour to the deserving McGregor, and taking no account of supporter’s wagers, fortuitously pounced on the second chance and fired low past Mark Gillespie to make it 1-0. Typical French selfishness but ho-hum.
It was to be honest a very open first half, Motherwell responded without breaking stride to the opening goal. Alan Campbell fired wide and winger Rolando Aarons – making his debut on loan from Newcastle – hit the post from a Liam Polworth cross. Motherwell in that first half were every inch the match for Celtic.
Rolando Aarons saw his effort fall by the wayside as the first half drew to an end and produced the sort of save that goes unmentioned in a 4-0 win.
That Fraser Forster save is exactly why your goal saver is at times every bit as important as your goal scorer. They may not get those headlines, jump in the crowd or have Stone Roses inspired anthems from the faithful but my word their worth is underrated but never undervalued.
The credit that was due in the first 45 minutes was long since spent by the time Celtic clicked into full gear and took the game to the Steelmen in the second half.
There were two main reasons for this. Callum McGregor and Odsonne Edouard. By the time the second 45 had started I’d forgiven their obvious attempts to deny me of this weekend’s beer money and I sat back to watch the show.
Callum McGregor set up Leigh Griffiths for a deserved goal, but just watch that goal back if you get the chance.
Nine out of ten midfielders would have played the ball on the first sight of the striker’s feet. Not Callum he wasn’t happy enough that the first pass wasn’t just quite right so carried the ball, shielding with strength until he saw the perfect opportunity to play Griffiths in again.
The wait and the weight of the timing and delivery saw Griffiths take a touch and put the ball past Gillespie. It was a moment of professionalism from McGregor and a shot in the arm for the confidence of Griffiths. Click, click, click through the gears and not quite finished yet.
By now the Fir Park resistance had emptied. Edouard set up Griffiths for a header which came back off the bar. Then that chance as Edouard played it into the path of Olivier Ntcham and the moody Frenchman went for height and missed the gaping hole at Gillespie’s bottom left hand post.
Scott Brown thumped a shot goalwards that was in the end easily gathered by Gillespie. Then within seconds the ball was heading en route to goal from McGregor but the perpetual motion midfielder failed to capitalise. Quickly from there Gillespie had to save again at the feet of Edouard. Celtic were turning the screw as superior fitness and ideas came to the fore.
Motherwell just about hung in there and resisted until the last 15 minutes, when James Forrest provided the assist for McGregor, who took a touch which set the ball up perfectly for him to hit a volley from 18 yards into the net. It was the best goal of the game up to that point.
Then came French Eddy’s Messi/Ronaldo moment, as Edouard fired in a free kick from 20 yards to make it 4-0. What a goal.
Chris Sutton reckons Edouard is the best since Larsson and that isn’t hyperbole, the big man would know better than us. He is sensational and every bit the team player that Henrik was. He also seems to like playing for Celtic, something the King of Kings gave a lot of weight to.
Ask the question Celtic. New contract Eddy?
Personne ne vous a demandé, Odsonne?
Je ne sais pas pourquoi Peter.
Niall J
