Motherwell were overwhelmed in the first half and Ripley earned praise from all sides with a terrific display of shot stopping to keep us in touch. We improved in the second half but anything other than an away win would have been a steal.
McGhee fielded the same eleven that won in Inverness and we had the first half chance of the game when Johnson gave Cadden a sight of goal after two minutes. Gordon coped easily with the first of very few attempts on his goal.
The game soon took shape and it was not to our advantage. Wave after wave of Celtic attacks flowed to the Cooper end as our ‘keeper stood up to a barrage of shots.
Gomis caught Roberts just inside the penalty area but Griffiths gave us some cheer as his penalty attempt missed the target. The escape acted as a spur and Motherwell fought to get into the game but too many passes and clearances went astray. Ripley was beaten a couple of minutes short of the break and Griffiths was booked for his celebration.
The manager’s chat had some effect and there was more of a purpose to our play. McDonald finished off a nice passage of play from the left but the east stand assistant raised an offside flag – apparently in error. The goal was scrubbed.
Cadden’s energy helped him to the dead ball line for a cut back to McDonald on the hour and this time there was no halt to the celebration. He finished from a dozen yards to offer some hope.
Ripley’s resistance ended in 75 minutes when a Griffiths shot crossed the line after squirming through the ‘keeper’s legs. The error should not distract from his outstanding performance. Without it the game would have beel lost in the first half.
Celtic saw out the game and we were left to hope for some top six comfort from the 3pm kick offs.
Motherwell 1 Celtic 2
Attendance 9,123
Team : Ripley, Hammell, McManus, Kennedy, Law, Johnson, Lasley (Leitch 76), Gomis (Thomas 89), Cadden (Ainsworth 76), Moult, McDonald