BBC SPORT | Football | Scottish Premier (original) (raw)

Stephen McManus opened the scoring for Celtic

A Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink double on a barren Fir Park pitch helped reignite Celtic's SPL title aspirations.

Stephen McManus put Celtic in front after 16 minutes when he bundled the ball into the net from close range.

But seven minutes later he could only help Ross McCormack's shot into his own goal for Motherwell's equaliser.

Scott McDonald and Vennegoor of Hesselink gave Celtic a comfortable lead at the break before the Dutch striker added a fourth on 56 minutes.

Celtic made two changes to the side that lost 1-0 at home to Motherwell last week.

Scott Brown began a three-match suspension and was replaced by Barry Robson while Paul Hartley also came into the midfield for Massimo Donati.

Motherwell midfielder Bob Malcolm was suspended after being sent off at Celtic Park last week.

Brian McLean came in at right-back with Paul Quinn moving into the middle.

Shunsuke Nakamura set up Scott McDonald on the right-hand side of the Motherwell box for the first opportunity of the game after nine minutes.

The former Fir Park player cut inside Steven Hammell but lashed his left-shoot wide.

On the 16th minute Nakamura's free-kick from wide on the left saw Well keeper Graeme Smith buckle under Gary Caldwell's challenge and the ball spun high into the air.

McManus rose above a cluster of Motherwell defenders to bundle the ball into the net from inside the six-yard box.

Moments later McDonald missed a sitter when he misdirected his header wide of the target from only six yards out.

McManus bagged his second goal of the game within seven minutes - this time it was at the wrong end, but Motherwell weren't complaining about the Celtic captain's gift.

McCormack dispossessed Nakamura in midfield and raced towards goal, playing a neat one-two with Stephen Hughes before slipping the ball past Artur Boruc.

As the ball spun towards the gaping goal McManus attempted to hook it clear but only succeeded in helping it into the net.

A timely challenge from Steven Hammill denied Nakamura in the box with the Japanese midfielder poised to shoot.

But Motherwell were unable to prevent McDonald restoring Celtic's advantage after half an hour, the striker's 27th goal of the season.

His well-controlled volley took a wicked deflection off Mark Reynolds and bounced over the flailing left arm of Smith.

Vennegoor of Hesselink gave the visitors a commanding two-goal lead approaching the interval with a powerful header from Barry Robson's corner.

Smith kept Motherwell in the game with an athletic save from McDonald as Celtic started the second half on the front foot.

At the other end McCormack rifled a vicious volley narrowly past Boruc's right-hand post.

Then Vennegor of Hesselink put the gloss on a fine Celtic victory after 56 minutes with a well-taken strike after Well failed to clear their lines.

Hughes weaved his way past two Celtic defenders after 71 minutes before unleashing a great shot that Boruc parried brilliantly to maintain Celtic's three-goal advantage.

Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell, Hughes, Brian McLean, Fitzpatrick (Darren Smith 71), Lappin (McGarry 57), McCormack, Porter (Murphy 82). Subs Not Used: Daniels, Lasley, Forbes, Archdeacon.

Booked: McCormack.

Goals: McManus 24 og.

Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Robson, Hartley, McGeady, McDonald (Killen 86), Vennegoor of Hesselink (Samaras 82). Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, Sno, Caddis, Mizuno, Balde.

Booked: Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Goals: McManus 17, McDonald 30, Vennegoor of Hesselink 43, 57.

Att: 9,771

Ref: A Freeland (Scotland).

BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Celtic's Scott McDonald 7.22 (on 90 minutes).

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