Celtic downs Motherwell to reach SPL summit

GLASGOW: Two goals in three first-half minutes gave Celtic a 2-0 win at Motherwell yesterday that sent the Hoops above their opponents and to the top of the Scottish Premier League for the first time this season.
Darren Randolph had already twice denied Gary Hooper, who scored all four goals in Celtic’s win over Raith Rovers in mid-week, before the striker latched on to a floated pass from Kris Commons to finish low past the goalkeeper in the 32nd minute.
The unfortunate Adam Cummins then fired past his own keeper in the 35th minute as he attempted to clear Scott Brown’s fiercely driven cross from the left.
Cummins’ day got worse in the 55th minute when he was shown a straight red card for hauling down Commons in the box, but Randolph saved Brown’s weak spot-kick.
The win moves Celtic one point above Motherwell and gives them a confidence boost before their Champions League away match against Spartak Moscow on Tuesday.
“I thought we were brilliant today from start to finish. That’s the best we have played at Fir Park certainly in my time here as player, coach and manager,” said Celtic manager Neil Lennon.
“Psychologically we have gone top of the league so it’s a good marker for us going into the game on Tuesday.” Motherwell manager Stuart McCall was relived to escape with only a 2-0 defeat.
“Today you saw a rampant Celtic side. You only had to look at the subs bench — that’s the strongest they’ve been all season,” McCall said.
“If Celtic are playing well — and they certainly played well today — then nobody in this league will live with them.” Georgios Samaras and Joe Ledley took their places on the Celtic bench after returning from injury, while Motherwell made two changes to the side that were knocked out the League Cup by Rangers in mid-week.
Celtic carved out the first chance in the 10th minute when James Forrest slipped in Hooper, but the striker’s shot was well blocked by Randolph.
Zaine Francis-Angol made a mess of the clearance, allowing Hooper to then pick out Commons, but the Well defender recovered to put the Celtic player off his shot.
Charlie Mulgrew then cleverly teed Brown up from a short free kick at the edge of the box, but Randolph dived to his right to keep out his low drive.
Celtic were growing in confidence and when Brown picked out Commons down the inside-left channel, the Scotland international came close to catching out Randolph with an audacious lob that landed on the roof of the net.
Hooper was thwarted by Randolph and then Francis-Angol before the English striker opened the scoring.
Shaun Hutchinson completely missed a lofted pass from Commons, allowing Hooper to get in behind the defense and finish low past Randolph.
Celtic only had to wait a little over two minutes to double their advantage when Cummins saw his attempted clearance from Brown’s driven ball into the box fly past his own keeper.
Cummins was shown a straight red card 10 minutes into the second period when he hauled down Commons just inside the box after the forward had latched on to a through ball from Victor Wanyama.
Brown took the resultant penalty but he sent his tame effort straight down the middle, allowing Randolph to stop with his feet.
Brown had a chance to make amends 10 minutes later when he got on the end of Emilio Izaguirre’s cut-back, but the midfielder’s volley was well saved by Randolph.
Izaguirre then picked out Wanyama with a cross from the left but the Kenyan headed over from six yards.


Elsewhere, a late Steven Thompson goal sealed a remarkable 5-4 win for St. Mirren over Ross County, Inverness Caledonian Thistle thrashed Dundee United 4-0 and Aberdeen defeated Hibernian 2-1.
Cillian Sheridan scored a hat-trick as St. Johnstone won 3-1 at Tynecastle against Hearts, while St. Johnstone defeated Dundee 3-1.