Lumaktaw sa pangunahing content

Rogic gives Celtic victory over Motherwell

Tom Rogic’s first-half strike was enough to give Celtic a 1-0 win over Motherwell and cut the gap on Scottish Premiership leaders Rangers back to four points.

Rogic converted David Turnbull’s disguised free-kick at the end of the first half during which Motherwell hit the bar.

The home side were far more comfortable after the break as they restored a four-point deficit on Rangers but they suffered another injury to an attacking player when James Forrest trudged off with a muscle problem.

Celtic were without a recognised striker after midweek hamstring injuries to Albian Ajeti and Kyogo Furuhashi.

Turnbull started up front, supported by Rogic and Callum McGregor behind him.

Motherwell also had fitness issues in a key area with Bevis Mugabi their only natural centre-back. Left-back Jake Carroll lined up in the middle of defence.

The visitors started with three strikers and gave as good as they got in the first half, although Forrest had an excellent early chance when he stabbed wide after McGregor’s return pass.

James Forrest was forced off injured.
Image: James Forrest was forced off injured.

Rogic had a shot well blocked but Motherwell twice came close through Callum Slattery, who glanced a header wide before striking the bar from 22 yards.

Mikey Johnston replaced Forrest in the 18th minute as Motherwell continued to press. Kaiyne Woolery had a shot blocked before Tony Watt shot across the face of goal.

Motherwell’s pressure continued and Joe Hart made an excellent stop from Sean Goss after a long throw.

Celtic improved around the half-hour mark. Johnston hit a couple of efforts wide, Liel Abada shot straight at Liam Kelly and Turnbull hit a deflected effort which the Motherwell goalkeeper pushed over after readjusting his body.

 Celtic's David Turnbull had chances against Motherwell
Image: Celtic’s David Turnbull had chances against Motherwell

Motherwell were still committing men forward and they were caught out by a long ball but Turnbull made a mess of his attempt to chip Kelly with the outside of his boot.

The breakthrough came when Slattery was penalised for attempting to stand his ground as Rogic competed for a high ball just on the left side of the box. Turnbull rolled the free-kick across the 18-yard box and the Australia midfielder peeled off untracked and fired into the top corner.

Motherwell's Callum Slattery was booked in the defeat to Celtic
Image: Motherwell’s Callum Slattery was booked in the defeat to Celtic

Turnbull set up Rogic again seconds after the interval but Nathan McGinley slid in to deny the goalscorer.

Celtic were now in full control. Turnbull and Rogic threatened from the edge of the box and Kelly saved well from Johnston’s header.

Motherwell looked like they had spent all their energy in the opening period, although Connor Shields headed wide from a decent chance seconds after coming on.

Johnston went off for fellow substitute Anthony Ralston before Rogic missed a couple of chances to ensure a few nervy moments for Postecoglou late on, although nothing of major significance.

What the managers said

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou says the players dug deep for their win over Motherwell to keep up the pressure on Scottish Premiership leaders Rangers

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou speaking to Sky Sports:

“We still missed a load of chances that should have made the game more comfortable for us, but we dug in and to the credit of the players they kept persisting and I’m pleased we got our rewards for it.

“It was a concern him (James Forrest) coming off, but it’s just the run we’re going through.

“Ajeti and Giakoumakis are nowhere near. Kyogo is a wait and see process, it’s nothing serious but we’ve just got to be careful with him.”

Motherwell manager Graham Alexander speaking to Sky Sports:

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Motherwell manager Graham Alexander was unhappy with the decision to award the free-kick that resulted in Celtic’s only goal against them

“It was a non free-kick, I thought it was two players body contact looking for the ball. It happened probably 50-60 times in the game, not all of them are free-kicks.

“But the one that hurt us and won the game for them I didn’t think was a free-kick.

“We want to come to these big clubs and take the game to them and try and play how we want to play. I thought every single one of my players did that today.”

What’s next?

Celtic are at Ross County at 7.45pm on Wednesday, while Motherwell host St Johnstone at 3pm on December 18.



Rogic gives Celtic victory over Motherwell
Source: Healthy Lifestyle

Mga Komento

Mga sikat na post sa blog na ito

Leonen is backlog topnotcher

Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Mario Victor Leonen has racked up the top spots in his division and the court en banc in terms of pending cases. Marvic Leonen Documents from the court show that aside from 82 unresolved en banc cases, Leonen also has 899 pending cases in the Third Division as of March 31, 2020. The division’s Statistics on Judicial Pending Cases was signed by Division Clerk of Court Misael Domingo Battung erd. Leonen has 199 cases classified as “aging” and 700 “non-aging” cases in the Third Division which he heads. Non-aging cases are cases which are waiting for other pleadings to be submitted. Other members of the Third Division at that time when the statistics were made were Justices Alexander Gesmundo, Rosmari Carandang, Rodil Zalameda and Samuel Gaerlan. Leonen has been with the Supreme Court for eight years, having been appointed by President Benigno Aquino 3rd on Nov. 21, 2012. He turns 58 years old on December 29. He is the division’s m...

NHL exec Colin Campbell explains league’s schedule goals in Canada

NHL senior executive vice president Colin Campbell says the league would like to try to preserve as many full-capacity home games as possible for Canadian fans, but acknowledges other factors are at play in redoing the schedule during the current COVID-19 surge. “You’d like to give the fans the opportunity to go to as many games as they can. They’ve already been shortchanged in the last year and a half … shortchanged completely watching hockey here in Canada,” Campbell said in an interview on the Real Kyper and Bourne show on Sportsnet 590 The Fan on Friday. “It’s a rite of passage to watch the world juniors this time of year for all young kids. I remember growing up watching it. Now, it’s cancelled. We’re trying to save as much as we can and delay it.” The NHL postponed nine more games on Friday because of arena capacity issues in Canada — with teams being allowed anywhere from zero fans (Montreal Canadiens) to 50 per cent capacity (Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Can...

SMC, Animal Kingdom rescue abandoned animals in Taliptip, Bulakan

Domestic animals that were abandoned in Barangay Taliptip in Bukakan, Bulacan were rescued by San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and Animal Kingdom AFTER providing new homes for former residents of Barangay Taliptip in Bulakan, Bulacan — future site of its P740-billion Manila International Airport project — San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is now helping rescue and relocate domestic animals that were abandoned in the area. SMC and animal welfare organization Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF) have been working together to rescue some 70 abandoned or stray animals, mostly dogs, left at the site. Animal Kingdom is a non-profit, non-government organization dedicated to improving the welfare and living conditions of animals and eliminating the cruel trade of dog meat for human consumption in the country. Some 50 animals, consisting of dogs and cats, have been rescued. At least 20 more are set to be rescued from different sitios in the coming days. The rescued animals are brought to Animal Kingdo...