Motherwell's ten men were showered with praise for the stiff resistance they offered to Celtic in the second half on Sunday but the opportunities the eleven created in the first half might have given them a deserved lead.
Sometimes the old cliché just works, it was a game of two halves. After an opening flurry from the visitors we shook off their threat and pushed them back. Our direct style produced far more goalmouth action that the opposition's ponderous possession. Bain coped well with the direct shots from Main, Cadden and Bowman and produced his best to deflect Main's header.
We looked the better side as the break approached but all that changed in the 41st minute. Craig Thomson's hasty decision to pull the red card will surely be rescinded when the appeal panel. Kipré's dismissal threw our game into reverse and gave Celtic the initiative.
Few of the 9,000 in the ground would have given Motherwell any chance of holding out without loss as the teams emerged for the second half. We were besieged for most of the second period and were rarely seen at the Cooper stand end of the pitch. What followed proved to be a heroic defensive action led by Carson on the line. Celtic added an impressive set of substitutes as they sought the goal their pressure merited but there was no way through the claret and amber lines. Roberts, Sinclair and Armstrong replaced Forrest, Ntcham and Edouard and we strengthened the defensive shell win Hendrie in place of Frear.
The players received a standing ovation for their efforts and most will now have a few days respite before preparations for the game against Rangers begin. Campbell and Cadden will be involved in the UEFA U21 double header against Andorra while Carson will he hoping for a place in the Northern Ireland friendly against South Korea.