Reo Hatate’s fantastic strike ensured Celtic bounced back from their first Scottish Premiership defeat in a year with victory against Motherwell.
The Japanese midfielder drilled the ball into the bottom corner from 25 yards out in the second half to ease growing tension at Celtic Park, despite Callum McGregor’s late red card.
Motherwell had threatened to get a result after Josip Juranovic’s own goal brought them level following Kyogo Furuhashi’s early opener, but Celtic’s win took them back into top spot.
Ange Postecoglou’s side are two points clear of Rangers again having had their seamless start to the season – and 38-game unbeaten run in the Premiership – ended by St Mirren before the international break.
And, still missing first-choice defenders Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt through injury, there were moments of vulnerability again against a well-drilled Motherwell side.
That was typified by the visitors’ equaliser, when Juranovic and goalkeeper Joe Hart failed to communicate properly, resulting in the Croatian defender sending a harmless cross into an empty net with his chest.
Crosses and set-pieces were not always dealt with convincingly, but ultimately Celtic had plenty of chances to win the match more comfortably.
Kyogo put them in front after 15 minutes by following in after Matt O’Riley’s header was saved by Motherwell goalkeeper Liam Kelly, and the Japanese striker also headed wide twice from close range.
Before his mistake, Juranovic had cracked the bar with a free-kick while later flashing two efforts just over.
Hatate also had another wonderful effort in the first half which came off a post, before executing superbly after the break to ultimately clinch the game.
Motherwell performed as effectively as any Scottish side has at Celtic Park this season, but while they worked the ball into good positions they were unable to create enough goalscoring opportunities.
That was until Hatate’s wayward pass into his own half allowed Ross Tierney to intercept and run towards goal, forcing McGregor to haul the Motherwell midfielder down.
Referee John Beaton decided the Celtic captain had denied a clear goalscoring opportunity, and it proved fruitless for Motherwell as substitute Josh Morris blazed the resulting free-kick over.
Player of the match – Reo Hatate
Unconvincing Celtic get job done – analysis
This was not a barnstorming response to defeat by St Mirren, but Celtic did what was needed. The reality is the absence of both Carter-Vickers and Starfelt in central defence makes them vulnerable, particularly from balls into the box.
Fortunately for Celtic, Carter-Vickers could be available for Wednesday’s Champions League tie against RB Leipzig, because the pairing of Moritz Jenz and Stephen Welsh has been very unconvincing, albeit in just two matches.
Having said that, this was not a case of two players letting the team down. Celtic still created plenty of opportunities, but what was missing was the overall sense of complete control, of smothering the visiting team.
Those are the standards Celtic have set this season. Part of the credit for that has to go to Motherwell, who were well organised in hassling their hosts and also effective at playing out at times to cause problems.
Manager Steven Hammell really has transformed the way the team plays for the better, but they struggled to create high-quality chances. That’s now three games without a Motherwell player scoring, and four without a win in the league. Their expected goals (xG) rating in this game was just 0.29.
Nevertheless, there are positives to take.
What they said
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou: “It’s not significant but it is important especially when you’ve lost your previous game. You don’t want to get in that rut where you make things difficult for yourself.
“We certainly created enough chances to win the game more comfortably than we did – and a couple of self-inflicted wounds probably made it closer than it should have been.”
Motherwell manager Steven Hammell: “The overriding feeling is frustration. It’s a game we could have got something out of. Celtic had some chances but we did also.
“The message before the game was to come here and conduct ourselves well and come away with something. I think the way the game played out, we could have done that.”
What’s next?
Celtic are in Germany to take on RB Leipzig on Wednesday (17:45 BST) as they continue their group stage campaign in the Champions League, while Motherwell are away to Ross County on Tuesday night in a re-arranged Premiership tie (19:45).
Player of the match
GossSean Goss
Celtic
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Squad number8Player nameFuruhashiAverage rating
6.66
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Squad number17Player nameJotaAverage rating
6.58
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Squad number41Player nameHatate
Average rating6.53
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Squad number42Player nameMcGregor
Average rating6.29
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Squad number1Player nameHart
Average rating6.10
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Squad number38Player nameMaeda
Average rating6.10
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Squad number33Player nameO’Riley
Average rating6.07
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Squad number3Player nameTaylor
Average rating5.91
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Squad number6Player nameJenz
Average rating5.77
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Squad number11Player nameAbada
Average rating5.63
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Squad number88Player nameJuranovic
Average rating5.56
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Squad number57Player nameWelsh
Average rating5.49
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Squad number14Player nameTurnbull
Average rating5.48
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Squad number9Player nameHaksabanovic
Average rating5.46
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Squad number28Player nameAbildgaard
Average rating5.27
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Squad number13Player nameMooy
Average rating5.11
Motherwell
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Squad number27Player nameGoss
Average rating8.04
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Squad number1Player nameKelly
Average rating4.21
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Squad number9Player namevan Veen
Average rating4.11
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Squad number6Player nameMaguire
Average rating4.08
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Squad number4Player nameLamie
Average rating4.06
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Squad number24Player namePenney
Average rating4.05
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Squad number29Player nameShields
Average rating3.99
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Squad number15Player nameJohansen
Average rating3.95
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Squad number18Player nameCornelius
Average rating3.92
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Squad number7Player nameSpittal
Average rating3.88
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Squad number16Player nameMcGinn
Average rating3.88
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Squad number21Player nameMoult
Average rating3.51
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Squad number17Player nameMcKinstry
Average rating2.97
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Squad number26Player nameTierney
Average rating2.97
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Squad number23Player nameMorris
Average rating2.85
Line-ups
Celtic
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Hart
- 88Juranovic
- 57WelshBooked at 52mins
- 6Jenz
- 3Taylor
- 33O’RileySubstituted forTurnbullat 65′minutes
- 42McGregorBooked at 89mins
- 41HatateSubstituted forAbildgaardat 90+1′minutes
- 38MaedaSubstituted forAbadaat 64′minutes
- 8FuruhashiSubstituted forHaksabanovicat 80′minutes
- 17Neves FilipeSubstituted forMooyat 90+1′minutes
Substitutes
- 9Haksabanovic
- 11Abada
- 13Mooy
- 14Turnbull
- 25Bernabei
- 28Abildgaard
- 31Siegrist
- 49Forrest
- 56Ralston
Motherwell
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Kelly
- 16McGinn
- 15Johansen
- 4LamieBooked at 27mins
- 24PenneyBooked at 60mins
- 6Maguire
- 27GossSubstituted forMorrisat 80′minutes
- 29ShieldsBooked at 90mins
- 18CorneliusSubstituted forMcKinstryat 69′minutes
- 7SpittalSubstituted forTierneyat 80′minutes
- 9van VeenBooked at 42minsSubstituted forMoultat 69′minutes
Substitutes
- 2O’Donnell
- 5Mugabi
- 13Oxborough
- 17McKinstry
- 21Moult
- 23Morris
- 26Tierney
- 38Miller
- 47Ross
- Referee:
- John Beaton
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Celtic 2, Motherwell 1.
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Second Half ends, Celtic 2, Motherwell 1.
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Attempt missed. Liel Abada (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box misses to the left.
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Attempt saved. Sead Haksabanovic (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Aaron Mooy.
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Connor Shields (Motherwell) is shown the yellow card.
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Hand ball by Josh Morris (Motherwell).
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David Turnbull (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Matt Penney (Motherwell).
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Substitution, Celtic. Aaron Mooy replaces Jota.
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Substitution, Celtic. Oliver Abildgaard replaces Reo Hatate.
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Attempt missed. Josh Morris (Motherwell) left footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
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Callum McGregor (Celtic) is shown the red card.
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Foul by Callum McGregor (Celtic).
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Ross Tierney (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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David Turnbull (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Ricki Lamie (Motherwell).
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Foul by Liel Abada (Celtic).
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Stuart McKinstry (Motherwell) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Attempt saved. Barry Maguire (Motherwell) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Louis Moult.
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Hand ball by Stuart McKinstry (Motherwell).