The clocks went back last night to afford an extra hour in bed for all. There was, though, nothing dozy about Celtic’s win at Fir Park as they returned from their Champions League adventures to return to the summit of the Scottish Premiership with a comfortable win at Fir Park.
There was much for Brendan Rodgers to be pleased about with Luke McCowan getting his first goal on his first start for the club. Alistair Johnston – captain for the the day – netted a second after the break while Adam Idah also chipped in with a late effort after coming off the bench.
There was also a return for Cameron Carter-Vickers, who came off the bench to a roar of approval from the travelling support. It was the first appearance of the American internationalist since Celtic’s opening Champions League game against Bratislava back in September.
With no Callum McGregor in the Celtic squad – the midfielder picked up a knock in Italy on Wednesday evening – it was teenager Lennon Miller who pulled the strings in the middle of the park in the opening stages of this encounter.
The 18-year-old was denied by the woodwork twice within two minutes, firstly when capitalised on a defensive mix-up between Kasper Schmeichel and Paulo Bernardo with the teenager whacking the outside of the post with a rasping 20-yard effort.
He was at it again immediately after when he his quick feet saw him upended at the edge of the box. Miller dusted himself down to curl a free-kick off the crossbar.
Celtic, too, were menacing on the attack with the Parkhead side first to make the breakthrough. Luke McCowan, on first start for the club since his move from Dundee at the end of the summer transfer window, netted with
It might have been more. Celtic thought they had a second when Alistair Johnston’s ball into the box, intended for Daizen Maeda, somehow tricked into the net. VAR ruled that the ball had come off the hand of the Japanese internationalist while Celtic felt he had been pushed to the deck by Stephen O’Donnell with the ball clipping his hand as a consequence. VAR ruled no goal and no penalty.
Celtic looked to add to their tally after the interval with Motherwell keeper Aston Oxborough turning a Kyogo Furuhashi effort behind.
He could do nothing, however, when Johnston got his head onto Alex Valle’s deep cross to the back post as the Canadian internationalist gave Celtic the comfortable cushion of a second goal.
Idah was introduced to the fray with his first act to clip the outside of the post after Reo Hatate had delivered into the box. His cross as touched on by Nicholas Kuhn to the Irish forward with the woodwork denying him.
It proved to be a stay of execution with Idah netted Celtic’s third.
Liam Gordon was dismissed in added time after VAR ruled that his foul on Idah was worth more than the initial yellow he had been shown. It compounded a miserable day for Motherwell.
Get Instant Access To The Latest Football News To Your Phone
