SCOTT BAIN 7– Three decent first half saves when it was 11 v 11. Little to do after the Kipre red card but looks like an accomplished keeper. The free kick that was blootered at him was turned around the post effectively and the immediate thought was that that might have gone in Dorus was playing.
JACK HENDRY 5 -Steady enough at right back, although thought we would have got more from Lustig, especially given KT was missing at the other side. Hendry lacks composure when in offensive positions at corners. Three times he got a half chance presented to him and each time he seemed the most surprised person in the ground. The reason you are up there is to try to score!
KRISTOFFER AJER 5– Was under pressure from an aggressive Motherwell side which enjoys making the game as physical as possible against Celtic. Ajer held his own but could probably do with adding some Motherwell style steel to his game.
DEDRYCK BOYATA 6– After his eventful afternoon at Ibrox the big Belgian had a much better afternoon. When he took little risks in possession this week, things went his way this time around.
CALLUM McGREGOR 6– Playing at left back from the start, much of the play went through him. So comfortable on the ball, intelligent in keeping things going forward for the side, but as with everyone else there was no end product today. Moved inside when Ntcham was replaced as Brendan sought to break the deadlock.
OLIVIER NTCHAM 5– Booked early on and never gave the type of performance that we were raving about last Sunday. Replaced by Armstrong on 60 minutes, probably with a yellow he was one tackle away from Thomson levelling the numbers at 10 v 10. Two or three chocking corners, even by Celtic are crap at taking corners standards, are also worth noting.
SCOTT BROWN 6– Broony was involved in the match’s big talking point on 40 minutes when Cedric Kipre was shown a straight red card for kicking out at the Celtic captain. Thomson, like Collum last weekend, was quick to produce the red card and indicated that the Motherwell player had kicked out at Brown, who himself had pushed the French defender after the initial tackle. Brown did NOT role around but a kick was made and his slight reaction could be down to anticipating the kick that Thomson thought he saw, coming his way. A yellow card to the two of them would have been fair.
JAMES FORREST 5– Other than a wee purple patch in the first half, when he looked like he could skin the two defenders who were clearly terrified of his pace, Jamesy went into his shell and had another quiet afternoon. He has so much to offer, but this was another game where he was frustratingly quiet.
TOM ROGIC 7 – Even on a day like today when we can’t score against 10 men, the skills of Tom Rogic are something to admire. In the first half he looked the most likely to score for Celtic – Motherwell had just as many chances before the sending off. In the second half when the home side sat deep with two banks of four around their area, space was at a premium. It was Rogic who found the space and the cross to put one opportunity on a plate for Dembele.
ODSONNE EDOUARD 5 The Ibrox match-winner started well and linked up effectively with McGregor down the left hand side. Never got a sniff at goal all afternoon and was replaced in the double substitution on 60 minutes by Scotty Sinclair.
MOUSSA DEMBELE 5 – Managed to get a header into the ground and up towards the goal but the impressive Carson in the Motherwell goal was on hand to touch it over the bar, for another corner. After the sending off Motherwell sat in so space was always restricted in and around their box and it wasn’t a day where Moussa could make the difference. He was slightly short with his pass to set Sinclair away in the closing stages.
SUBS
STUART ARMSTRONG 6 – Tried to impose himself on the game and had a couple of speculative efforts on goal, one curled just wide of Carson’s far post. Also took a decent corner late on, which was more than could be said for some of the earlier ones. He’ll be glad to be back playing and will no doubt get some game time with Scotland during the international break.
SCOTTY SINCLAIR 5 – Eager to make an impact having lost his place in the side in recent weeks. Booed constantly by the Motherwell fans who still haven’t forgiven him from what they regard as a dive in the Betfred Cup Final back in November. Scotty wouldn’t have been bothered about that and he had the perfect opportunity to shut them up right at the end when Dembele sent him through as Motherwell were caught up field. Last season he would have buried it but did little wrong and his shot was net bound but was blocked by a determined Motherwell defender. Moussa could have hit the pass a little harder and the end result would have been different.
PADDY ROBERTS 5 – Tried to force it too many times and clearly needs time to get back to his best. However with no match fitness whatsoever Roberts still managed to come close, striking the bar with a shot from just outside the box. Trying a wee nutmeg when time was running out wasn’t the best idea and resulted on groans from the travelling support. Good to see him back though.
BRENDAN RODGERS 6 – Brendan’s plan for playing with 10 men is a cracker. Three times it has happened and we’ve scored 4 goals and conceded none. However the plan for playing against ten men turned out to be nowhere near as effective. Having lost Tierney, it could be argued that Lustig should have played, but it’s a weekend where Celtic have extended the lead at the top into double figures and we have a game in hand.
Blowing the whistle, former referee on Willie Collum’s Ibrox performance
