I watched Motherwell vs Celtic from press box: 3 things I spotted as £20.5m moment sums up Fir Park game

A battling Motherwell side succumbed to a 3-0 defeat at home to Celtic in their latest Premiership clash.

Lennon Miller hit the woodwork twice in the first 10 minutes as the Steelmen sought an early lead. It was Brendan Rodgers’ visitors who would strike before the half-hour mark as Luke McCowan netted a low effort, and Daizen Maeda had another ruled out for handball.

Alistair Johnston headed a second after the break to seal the game before Adam Idah put the cherry on the Hoops cake, with Liam Gordon sent off in the dying embers for those in claret and amber. Motherwell are fifth in the table ahead of a trip to Dundee United on Wednesday. Celtic stay top.

Coming into battle off the back of an underwhelming performance in defeat to Dundee on this turf eight days ago, momentum from a winning run had been halted somewhat. With big tests to come in the week ahead - starting with this and ending at Hampden against Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup - there was little time for feeling sorry.

Their start suggested little of that and Miller almost had them ahead. Good pressing had Paulo Bernardo falling over himself, allowing Apostolos Stamatelopoulos to tee up the midfielder for an effort that clattered the post. If that wasn’t close enough, his free-kick off the bar mere minutes later was even nearer to breaking the deadlock.

Despite Motherwell’s impressive start, not seeing one of those efforts creep inches either side of the uprights was punished. McCowan took it upon himself to beat a few players then drill a low effort beyond Aston Oxborough as the Hoops quality was displayed in brutal fashion.

For all of Kettlewell’s side doing almost everything right, one small moment of not closing a man was punished and it cemented Celtic dominance in proceedings. A two-goal lead hinged on a was it or wasn’t it moment when Maeda bundled the ball home but VAR ruled a handball when very few inside Fir Park seemed to know what was going on.

It was almost a procession from the goal onwards. While not peppering the Motherwell goal with shot after shot, Celtic were growing in confidence with quality only Aberdeen have been able to live with domestically this season. When Johnston headed home after half-time, the game was as good as done.

Kettlewell’s men hadn’t been turned over by either side of Glasgow during his tenure, taking a win at Rangers last term and two draws with the Hoops. The goal perhaps turned somewhat towards this not becoming a confidence-bashing pasting. One strike into the Celtic lead would spark hopes of a comeback, a third for the champions would make the roof caving in much likelier.

They did get that third Celtic, but right at the death through substitute Idah and Gordon was sent off late on through a VAR check for serious foul play. Rain had started to pour but the Fir Park ceiling was in tact despite the comfortable nature of opposition victory. I was in the press box to take in the match. Here are three things I spotted from the game.

Confidence in tact?

With this the start of three big games for Motherwell - this their most difficult - it was of the utmost importance to not take a doing. Very few would have expected Kettlewell’s team to take anything from this and ensuring they weren’t on a downer with Dundee United and Rangers looming had to be on the agenda. They started well and overall, while not perfect, the performance was ok. It won’t come any tougher than this and Motherwell need to pick what positives they can from it.

Debutant starters

Tom Sparrow and Marvin Kaleta were making their first starts of the season in claret and amber. Both can be pleased with their efforts, as Kaleta matched the athletic threat of Daizen Maeda well and got forward with limited time he had to do so. Sparrow meanwhile had some nice touches and pressed well next to Stamatelopoulos.

The gulf

If one moment summed up the task in this game it was a double sub made by Rodgers in the second half. He opted to bring on Idah and Arne Engels, who arrived in the transfer window in deals worth a combined £20.5m. That kind of talent coming off the bench never mind what started the game clearly summed up what Motherwell were up against, with Idah netting the winner. They weren’t bad by any means in this game but if Celtic decide they want to win a game at this level, they do. And they choose victory almost every time.