SPL Wednesday September 11th

Motherwell 2

Celtic 1

1:0 Fagan (75); 2:0 McFadden (79 pen); 2:1 Hartson (86)

Att: 8,448

MIB: Willie Young

Celtic: Douglas; Valgaeren, Balde, Laursen; Agathe (Maloney 69), Lambert, Petrov, Thompson (Hartson 63), Guppy; Larsson, Sutton

Celtic paid the price for a lacklustre performance against a mediocre Motherwell. The warning signs were there against Thistle, but in the psychological wake of the Basel debacle and the pall of uncertainty hanging over OFM's future, Celtic looked punch drunk.

Larsson had three golden opportunities to kill off the game in the first half, but fluffed them all. Two one on ones with Woods resulted in a lob as limp as Boy George in a brothel, being collected by the keeper, the other a wide shot at a tight near angle when the far post was gaping. The third miss was unfortunate. Guppy had skinned the Well clodder sent to cripple him and delivered a low ball to the near post, only to watch it bobble onto Larsson's shin and off wide of the post.

At this point the game looked as dull as Lambert, Petrov and Bald,e who had hit the trenches and were going through fatigued paces, looking like to shell shock victims . The absence of Lennon and Mjallby only made matters worse . Their replacements were equally leaden. Thompson did not look match fit and Laursen was ineffectual.

The inevitable came when Mc Fadden, the poor man's Freddie Ljunberg, resplendant with a red Mohican, skinned Lambert and set up a cross met by Shaun Fagan. Fagan quickly picked Celtics pocket and sent Mc Fadden back too, for a second twist ( geddit).

Larsson almost snatched one back, but predictably, his header came off the post. Laursen then made his most telling contribution of the night, by bungling down Mc Fadden in the box. MIB Willie Young duly awarded the spot kick which Mogwa converted.

Celtic eventually woke up and attempted to wipe the smug look off Butchers ass. Hartson controlled a knock on and spun past the Well defence to shoot beyond Woods and set up a grand stand finish. Too little, too late!

This result has been on the cards. Too many players look tired. Larsson carries too much of the load out field, which is probably why his sharpness in front of goal has gone, OFM needs to regroup, re-freshen and kick ass before TFOD come a calling.

Incidentally, this result, should Hearts capitulate as usual to the Darkness, will see the Huns go clear at the top of the table. This will be an affront to good taste.