Celtic on this Day – Perhaps the most entertaining Celtic match during Brendan Rodgers’ two spells as Celtic manager…

Tom Rogic scores the winner. Motherwell 3 Celtic 4 at Fir Park on 3 December 2016. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou

3 December 2016

Motherwell 3-4 Celtic. Possibly the most entertaining domestic game of both Brendan Rodgers’ spells at the Hoops. An unbelievable game of football culminating in Tom Rogic scoring a last-minute winner.

Louis Moult netted a first half double with Celtic defender Kolo Toure looking completely out of his depth up against the Englishman. It had been the first time since September Celtic had conceded any domestic goals.

Callum McGregor scores. Motherwell 3 Celtic 4 at Fir Park on 3 December 2016. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou

Paddy Robers scores — Paddy Roberts scores. Motherwell 3 Celtic 4 at Fir Park on 3 December 2016. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

Stuart Armstrong scores the 3rd — Stuart Armstrong scores. Motherwell 3 Celtic 4 at Fir Park on 3 December 2016. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou

Callum McGregor pulled one back straight after the interval. Chaos ensued in a three minute period as Patrick Roberts equalised with a header, but Lionel Ainsworth then put the Steelmen back in front and then directly from kick off, Stuart Armstrong levelled the match at 3-3. Incredible stuff.

Celtic celebrations as Tom Rogic grabs the winner. Motherwell 3 Celtic 4 at Fir Park on 3 December 2016. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

The ever-reliable Aussie playmaker Tom Rogic sealed the three points in stoppage time with a strike on his weaker right foot. Mark McGhee, then Motherwell manager, was embroiled in a touchline spat with Celtic assistant manager Chris Davies.

Calmac and Brendan — Motherwell 3 Celtic 4 at Fir Park on 3 December 2016. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

Post-match, Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers said, “we changed the system at half time to 3-4-3. We were absolutely brilliant second half. To score the four goals, to win the game, it really shows the mentality of the team.” Celtic’s heroic win at Fir Park meant that they had accumulated 37 points from a possible 39 in the league, well on their way to securing six consecutive league titles.

Tom Rogic and the manager — Motherwell 3 Celtic 4 at Fir Park on 3 December 2016. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

3 December 2023

James Forrest scores for Celtic at McDiarmid Park against St Johnstone on 3 December 2023. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

St Johnstone 1-3 Celtic. Brendan Rodgers said after the game that he has “never been so angry at half-time,” as the Hoops trailed at the break following a dreadful first 45. This time last year, Celtic were an awful watch. We had limped out the Champions League group stages following a 2-0 defeat to Lazio in Rome. Also, Rodgers’ men had dropped points at home to Motherwell a week prior. The team had hit a slump, but to recover at McDiarmid Park was a positive.

Skipper Callum McGregor stepped up with the equaliser followed by an absolute belter courtesy of Matt O’Riley. Joe Hart made up for his error earlier in the match with a top class save from what looked like a Stevie May leveller. Celtic broke up the other end and added a third through James Forrest.

3 December 2014

Celtic 1-0 Partick Thistle. A truly forgettable Glasgow Derby but it was Virgil Van Dijk who came up trumps for Ronny Deila’s side with another crucial winning goal from the big Dutchman. Rarely for Ronny, it was an eighth domestic win on the bounce, but for the majority of those games, the Scottish champions had won by the odd goal and it was all fairly unconvincing.

Funnily, on the same day as Celtic dispatched the Jags in the top-flight, theRangers were beaten 3-2 from Alloa Athletic in the Petrofac Cup semi-final after being 2-0 ahead in the match. All while manager Ally McCoist was on £800,000 a year (same club wages).