SPL Saturday October 30th

Motherwell 2

Celtic 3

0:1 McGeady 41
0:2 Thompson 65 pen
1:2 Corrigan 67
2:2 Foran 71 pen
2:3 Beattie 77

Att: 10,592

MIB: Douglas McDonald

Celtic: Marshall Agathe Balde Valgaeren McNamara McGeady Petrov Lennon Thompson Juninho Hartson
subs
Wallace for McGeady 66

A vital three points in the end after our midweek mayhem, but not achieved without subjecting the fans to further variations on the theme of slapstick defending. Well, we were all complaining about a lack of excitement in the SPL.

It should have been all over after Thompson's penalty had doubled Celtic's advantage to add to a good move finished off well by McGeady in the first half. But six minutes of madness quickly followed and Motherwell were right back in it.

Cue sub Craig Beattie who stepped up to the plate to crash home a brilliant winner set up by McNamara.

Interesting to note that the home fans at Family Club Motherwell - apart from singing 'One team in Europe' - have now found another Celtic player to boo apart from Neil Lennon. It must be because Aiden McGeady is one of those niggly type players. Couldn't possibly be sectarian, could it?

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Celtic treated us to the Brittney Spears experience as 'Hoops we did it again' featured yet another second half collapse that saw Celtic look like lassies dancing in the School yard.

It had all started so well too, with a good Motherwell goal chalked off for offside by a visionary linesman, while Juninho, having his best game in the Hoops up front along side Hartson, also suffered from a correct decision for once. It wasn't too long before the little Brazilian's penetrating runs set up McGeady for an easy opener before the break.

Celtic dominated a tousy second period before going two up, as the Brazilian wrong footed Butcher's blowhards to allow McGeady and Hartson to combine in setting up Stan for a tumble in the box. The move was noticeable for a deft lob by big John and the fact that Mr Invisible - Phil O'Donnell - wasn't noticed by Stan when he was tripped; now there is a surprise! Thommo duly converted and all looked rosy.

Five minutes later and it was Brittney time, with the Sieve dancing all over the shop. Marshall made a hash of a speculative long range effort from Corrigan that allowed 'Well straight back into the game. Then Bobo, having another howler, dumped an opponent in the box. Forlan converted the spot kick as all hands scrambled for the lifeboats.

The timely substitution of Beattie for Juninho saved the day. Beattie doesn't seem to been infected by the 'We haven't got Henrik , what are we going to do?' virus. He is brash and aggressive on the field and scored with a peach of a strike on the 77 minute mark to grab all three points.

The writing is large on the wall - the team is dying on its feet, tired from too many games, wilting through lack of leadership on the park and loss of confidence. This is going to be a tough old season on the nerves if this continues through November.