Celtic 4 - 0 Motherwell: Fans pay tribute to Lennon as Celtic lose out by a point

Published on Sunday 15 May 2011 14:17

Celtic finished their Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League campaign with a comfortable home win over Motherwell but lost out by a point to Old Firm rivals Rangers in the title race.

• Samaras celebrates scoring Celtic's second goal of the game

Goals by Gary Hooper and Georgios Samaras had the game tied up by the interval but an emphatic Light Blues victory at Kilmarnock made it academic.

Celtic substitutes Shaun Maloney and Paddy McCourt grabbed further goals to secure an easy victory but it was not enough to prevent the Hoops finishing second to Rangers for the third successive season.

The game turned in to something of a tribute to Neil Lennon, who has had to endure a wretched first season as permanent Hoops boss.

James Forrest replaced the suspended Kris Commons for Celtic's last Clydesdale Bank Premier League game of the season at home to Motherwell.

It was the only change Neil Lennon made to the Hoops side which beat Hearts 3-0 at Tynecastle on Wednesday night to keep them one point behind Rangers going into the final day.

Motherwell showed five changes, with manager Stuart McCall refusing to take risks with players ahead of next week's Scottish Cup final against Celtic at Hampden.

Goalkeeper Lee Hollis made his debut in goal and in came Gavin Gunning, Ross Forbes, Stuart Carswell and Francis Jeffers.

Celtic's title task was clear yet difficult.

The Parkhead side had to get a better result than the Light Blues could muster at Kilmarnock to win the SPL.

Lennon, who was attacked by a fan during the win at Tynecastle, was given a terrific reception by a defiant home support.

However, within a minute of the start some hesitation in the Hoops' defence allowed Motherwell midfielder Steve Jones a chance to shoot, but his drive went wide.

News of an early goal for Rangers dampened the enthusiasm inside the stadium and moments later Celtic defender Daniel Majstorovic headed Ki Sung-yueng's free-kick wide of the target.

Another two quickfire goals for the Light Blues in Ayrshire looked to have ended any Celtic hopes but they kept at their task and in the ninth minute Hollis made a great block from Georgios Samaras, before Forrest blazed over the bar seconds later.

In the 10th minute Hollis made another fine save, this time parrying clear Gary Hooper's right-footed drive.

In the 18th minute Lennon emerged from the dugout to take the orchestrated acclaim of the Celtic support, just as Motherwell defender Shaun Hutchinson headed over the Hoops' bar.

Moments later, Hollis did well to foil Hooper before Hoops skipper Scott Brown fired the loose ball inches wide.

There was a shout for a penalty when Samaras fell to the ground inside the box after clashing with Hutchinson but referee Alan Muir was not impressed.

Celtic continued to push Motherwell back but the Fir Park side were defending resolutely.

However, Hutchinson nearly put Samaras' low cross from the right into his own net - the defender was happy to see his clearance from six yards go for yet another corner which came to nothing.

But on the half-hour mark Celtic's pressure paid off when Hooper finally put them ahead.

When right-back Mark Wilson's cross came in to the packed Well box, Hooper got the break of the ball before poking it past Hollis from eight yards.

Celtic turned the screw further and Hollis made another save in the 36th minute, this time from Ki's angled drive, before making another block from the same player moments later.

But in the 40th minute the Fir Park keeper was helpless again when Samaras had the easy task to slide the ball in from 12 yards after being set up by Charlie Mulgrew.

In the final seconds Hollis tipped an attempted lob by Samaras over the bar to prevent a third goal.

With the points surely secured, Shaun Maloney replaced Celtic left-back Emilio Izaguirre at the break, with Mulgrew moving to left-back.

Within seconds of the restart Maloney was sent racing through the middle of the Motherwell defence by Hooper but he screwed his shot wide of the far post under pressure by Hollis.

However, in the 53rd minute, Maloney drove past Hollis from 12 yards after creating space for himself to make it 3-0.

Celtic supporters, in some defiance at their fate, celebrated in the style of Manchester City fans with their backs to the pitch and were given a round of applause by the players.

The game had become almost irrelevant as Lennon again waved in appreciation of the fans' backing.

In the 66th minute, as the tempo dropped further, Jonathan Page came on for Hutchinson while Paddy McCourt replaced Forrest and five minutes later the former Derry City player drove past Hollis to make it four.

As the game free-wheeled towards conclusion the home fans went through a repertoire of chants in appreciation of former players.

Maloney sent a couple of efforts wide of the target before the final whistle brought the curtain down on an ultimately disappointing league campaign for the Hoops.