Motherwell will travel to Celtic Park on Sunday with spirits raised after a convincing Europa League win over Glentoran.
No one at Fir Park will interpret Thursday’s win over the NIFL Premiership side as a sign that Motherwell are back to their best but there is no doubt that the first victory of the new season will provide welcome relief following a stumbling start.
Motherwell at Parkhead last season
After five league matches without any forward scoring the arrival of five should bolster belief. That the goals came with the opposition a man down and tiring hardly matters.
Liam Polworth was restored to midfield following the departure of David Turnbull. The transfer allowed a return to last season’s engine room – one that delivered a third place finish. Let’s hope that they can find the form that served well last term.
Celtic will have a one day recovery advantage as they played on Wednesday. Their defensive blunders cost them further involvement in the Champions League and they will be keen to shake off the embarrassment of an unexpected exit.
Neil Lennon has confirmed that they will be without the services of Odsonne Edouard and Stephen Robinson will take some comfort from that news. We will have to wait to see if Turnbull turns out in green and white to face his former team-mates.
Sunday’s match is followed by an international break but it is unlikely that Motherwell will enter it on the back of a win. Robinson will expect his charges to give their all but a 2-0 defeat could be on the way.