Tierney back from injury but McGregor misses out again with a calf strain. Trusty drops out for the final game of his 3-game league suspension so Scales moves back into the centre alongside Arthur. No Araujo in the squad with Donovan coming in - that’s a blow. Oxlade-Chamberlain seems to be taking on McGregor’s role at the base of the midfield. Maeda gets the nod upfront with Cvancara & Iheanacho on the bench. Adamu & Mvuka have been bombed out, it appears.
Strange one yesterday with Schmeichel back in training all week, O’Neill saying in the press conference they’d make a decision on his involvement ahead of the game but Schmeichel then giving an interview with the Danish press to remove himself from their squad & saying he’s simply not fit. It was obvious all season he was carrying his shoulder & it should have been called by Celtic’s medics & one of the managers way before he was ultimately dropped.
Tom Sparrow in for Celtic loanee Stephen Welsh for the Steelmen.
Their dismantling of Celtic in late December, albeit a Nancy Celtic, was about as thorough as I’ve seen Celtic suffer in Scotland. Totally controlled possession & territory, the tempo of the game & created more clear cut chances. It was like an away European game, never mind a trip to Fir Park.
Celtic beat them 3-2 in injury time in the first Celtic Park encounter in October. They’re not as strong away from home & lost away to Dundee last weekend, but have the best defensive record in the league & have only lost 4 league games compared to 7 for Celtic.
A huge game really after the 4 away matches across 3 competitions in 10 days that ended with the Ibrox drama last weekend. Celtic actually lost their most recent home league game to Hibs 3 weeks ago. I’d be concerned about Araujo’s absence & obviously the lack of cohesive attacking threat & goals in the side.
I’ve a bit of a (good) feeling about today folks. Fingers crossed now we kick on after the last manic period. No room for error and lets put a bit of pressure on these diets
Bhoys, Tounekti is absolutely wrecking my head today. He’s been terrible in every facet. Donovan has also kicked the ball away 3 or 4 times in a very panicked way. It’s a very good game & crucial to equalise quite soon after they scored. We were unlucky not to be in front from the Ox shot that hit the post & rolled across the line. Hatate was really bad for their goal to get caught like that, it was like he invited the contact instead of moving away with the ball. Great finish by Yang & it was another goal that came from the defending team getting caught playing out. Maeda made a complete mess of a brilliant chance after that when we also robbed them in their own third. Another Celtic game that looks like being a nail biter.
Their work rate is really impressive. They knock the ball around well but they can do that because they work very hard to make angles for each other.
Compare to the Celtic players all standing still facing their own goal when we have the ball. The work rate from the front three isn’t good enough and we’re getting caught between pressing and then leaving gaps in behind. In fairness to Nygren he has been energetic and the goal came from a higher work rate from a few of the players.
Maeda is painful to watch these days. So many poor decisions. And his pressing isn’t anything like it used to be.
I think Maeda has been less annoying than Tounekti. How the fuck have we ended up relying on wingers who would have been fifth or sixth choice 3 or 4 years ago? I’d bring on Cvancara & move Maeda to wide left.
Tounetki has been dreadful. They’re just knocking it into the space he’s supposed to be in. I’m not forgiving Maeda though. His work rate needs to be outstanding and relentless to justify his touch.
Cvancara made a difference when he came on. Maeda worked better on the wing and our tempo was just much better. Was surprised to see Nygren coming off - thought he was doing well. I know McCowan was good in stuttgart but he was hopeless today.
Pressure penalty for Cvancara - unlucky for Mr Beaton that he missed it in realtime. Yang took his two goals really well. He came alive for that second half. Thought the centre backs were good also throughout and Tierney had a very strong game until going off.
Tremendous second half display & very important win. That was a really high quality match with two of the best sides in Europe going toe to toe. Cvancara was impressive & a good focal point - interesting he assumed penalty duties from Hatate. Maeda offered much more from the wing & notable that MON singled out Maeda & Yang post match.
Yang was terrific in the second half. I thought we threatened going in front in that initial 15-20 minute period of the second half but Motherwell had regained a foothold for a little spell. Then Yang drove at them from deep inside the Celtic half & won the corner from which we earned the penalty. He took his second goal superbly on his weaker foot too.
Quite odd on Celtic TV to have nobody in commentary or the studio knowing why yer man was sent off at the penalty incident. All of them quoting the double jeopardy rule. Yes, it’s not a penalty AND a red card if the foul is committed when making a genuine attempt to win the ball. Longelo dragged Maeda down & made no attempt to fairly win the ball; hence the penalty & red card.
Best wishes to Neil McCann & St Mirren’s new managerial team in their respective matches this weekend.
