Motherwell 2 Celtic 0: Sutton at the double

as SPL leaders suffer a blow to title hopes

A John Sutton double gave Motherwell an unlikely win over Clydesdale
Bank Premier League leaders Celtic on a dramatic afternoon at Fir Park.

The Well striker pounced in the second minute after hesitation between
Charlie Mulgrew and goalkeeper Fraser Forster to knock the ball into an
empty net.

Delight: Motherwell players celebrate after John Sutton's opening goal

Celtic recovered to take control of the game but, at the start of the second
half, after Hoops left-back Emilio Izaguirre had been adjudged by referee
Euan Norris to have fouled Motherwell skipper Keith Lasley in the box,
Sutton blasted in the spot-kick.
Although television pictures indicated the award was soft, Motherwell held
onto the lead with all they could muster to register their first home win over
Celtic since 2005.

On another day Celtic might have won with some ease but Motherwell,
despite having to defend for long spells, could have added to their lead which
will be a worry for Hoops manager Neil Lennon.

Celtic went into the game on top form, unbeaten in 17 games, but they got off
to a nightmare start.
In the first minute Hoops defender Mulgrew missed a challenge on Chris
Humphrey down the right, allowing the Well wide-man to bear down on
Forster.

However, luckily for the visitors, defender Daniel Majstorovic was quickly
over to block the shot at the expense of a corner which came to nothing.

But seconds later, Mulgrew and Forster both hesitated when Gavin Gunning
sent a long, hopeful punt into the Celtic box and Sutton nipped in to round the
keeper and gratefully slide the ball into an empty net.

On target: Sutton puts Motherwell in front

Celtic's response was swift and moments later defender Mark Wilson climbed
high at the back post to reach a Kris Commons free-kick but headed over the
bar.

The energetic visitors were bossing a frantic match in which the ball was
being battered from pillar to post.
Motherwell had half a chance when Jamie Murphy's cross from the left ended
up at Humphrey but his angled shot from 14 yards was snatched and flew
wide.

Losing battle: Celtic striker Gary Hooper hooks the ball on against Motherwell

At the other end, with the home defence all over the place, Darren Randolph
had to make a fine point-blank save from Anthony Stokes and seconds later
the big keeper threw himself down to his left to push a Scott Brown shot from
distance past the post.

Motherwell survived the corner but it looked only a matter of time before the
Hoops levelled although Stokes again missed a chance in the 38th minute
when he turned and drove high over from 16 yards.

In the final minute, as Celtic pressed again, the Irishman had a shot from 10
yards cleared away by Well defender Shaun Hutchinson as it sped past
Randolph.

The start of the second half was as dramatic as the beginning of the first with
Sutton grabbing his second goal from a penalty within three minutes.
A tale of two managers: Stuart McCall and Neil Lennon

Celtic failed to clear their lines after Hutchinson had headed a Forbes corner
against the bar and, when Izaguirre tangled with Lasley in the box, referee
Norris pointed to the spot and Sutton drove the ball past Forster.

Wilson and Stokes were taken off minutes later, replaced by Georgios
Samaras and Efrain Juarez, and Celtic pounded the home side who were
forced in to some frantic defending.

In the 54th minute Commons' long-distance free-kick beat the Motherwell

defensive wall and Randolph but rebounded off the keeper's right-hand post.

It was another escape but, in a Motherwell breakaway, Murphy switched play

to send Humphrey clear down the right only for the Well player to hesitate
before getting his shot in and the ball struck Forster, who then pounced on the
loose ball.
In the 65th minute James Forrest replaced Ki in what was Celtic's last throw
of the dice with regards substitutions.

Celtic continued to push forward but with less conviction and in the 71st
minute Motherwell carved open another chance on the break but Murphy's
goal-bound shot from 12 yards was blocked by Sutton, who was trying to get
out of the way.

The leaders kept coming and Mulgrew had a header from a Commons free-
kick saved by Randolph and then Commons shot high over after finding a
yard of space inside the Motherwell box.

In the first minute of added time Randolph tipped a Commons shot over the
bar as it headed for the top corner as Motherwell defended stoutly until the
final whistle before heralding their first home win over Celtic in six years.