Fir Park can be a difficult enough venue to play at the best of times, never mind coming on the back of a taxing and strenuous midweek test against Serei A outfit, Atalanta in the UEFA Champions League. The Hoops worked their Celtic socks off in a non-stop battle of strength and wits to earn a valuable 0-0 draw in Italy and returned to face Motherwell at a place where skin-of-the-teeth wins have become something of trend of late. That the Celts won 3-0 without the accepted last-chance-saloon drama pays testament to resilience of a team built for such demanding tasks. After the game, Brendan Rodgers said: “It’s an excellent performance and result on the back end of a physically demanding week. ‘I thought by the end the players were really comfortable in the game.’ “There were a few scares in the first half, as you’d expect with the one that hits the crossbar, and there were just a few moments when we didn’t quite manage. “In the first half we didn’t switch the ball enough, you play against that system, 3-5-2 where you’ve got to keep working at it, you’ve got to switch it, and you’ve got to double-switch it. “And when we did that, then the opportunities came for us and we get a very good goal for the first one. “So it comes from taking it out one side, coming back in again and getting the goal. “We just said at half-time that that is the key to the game – just when we have the ball, switching the play, and the two other goals then come from that. “It’s so important for us and it just came from managing the game much better. “So I’m really pleased, chances late on for Reo and Luis Palma as well to add more to it, but overall, no goals conceded, a fantastic win, good performance and very concentrated which makes me very happy.”A first start for Luke McCowan was capped by the opening goal for the midfielder and, again, that was attributed to players coming in and knowing the structure and what’s expected of them. The manager said: “It’s very important. We have a very clear structure in how we work and how we play, and I think that goal comes from that. “We switched it down one side, it comes back inside and he’s in the perfect position that we want. “We recognise the decision that the right-hand midfield player had. He thinks it’s going to go to Ali, but Luke’s in the correct position inside. “Then he gets a little bit of good fortune one the one-two, it drops for him and finishes it so, so well, “And I think we’ve seen that from him, he’s come in with a brilliant attitude, he’s got great energy, but he can also contribute with goals, and I’m so pleased for him.” The game also featured the return of Cameron Carter-Vickers from injury when he appeared from the bench during the second half, another aspect of the game that delighted the manager. He said: “I’m very pleased, we’re not training a lot at the moment, so it’s important when we get those possibilities to get players in and play, then that’s absolutely key for us to have Cam in for 25 minutes and just get on the field again.“FixturesMotherwell Vs. Celtic – Sun, Oct 27th 2024, 15:00
Trending Now
