Celtic showed grit to overcome an initial one-goal deficit against Motherwell at Fir Park yesterday to secure a crucial victory in the title race.
Brendan Rodgers had his work cut out at the interval following Blair Spittal’s opener from the hosts; however, he was able to rally his side to produce an excellent performance in the second half to claim three points.
Republic of Ireland international Adam Idah continues to cement his status as a new-found hero among the Hoops’ support, which will now have been amplified given the importance of his brace in North Lanarkshire.
Honduran winger Luis Palma put the icing on the cake, slotting home from close range for his ninth goal across all competitions in green and white [Transfermarkt].
In his post-match press conference, Rodgers indicated that his side will ignore external noise while pursuing a domestic double.
The Irishman stated: “It was important for us to get the win today psychologically. There’s a story being written about this club, but we will write our own story.”
Next up for the Bhoys is a home clash against Dundee on Wednesday at Parkhead, with tickets still available on the official club website alongside a pay-per-view broadcast for those who cannot attend, priced at £12.99.
Brendan Rodgers thinks one Celtic man was ‘huge’ vs Motherwell
Granted, Celtic made hard work of proceedings at Fir Park; nevertheless, we have witnessed so many dramatic victories over the years that are considered crucial moments come the end of a successful season.
Rodgers will hope that yesterday’s events can provide a platform for his side to kick on, and he has singled out one of his players for special praise due to their role in the Bhoys’ fruitful trip to Fir Park.
Referencing the impact of Cameron Carter-Vickers, the former Liverpool manager indicated that the United States international’s return from injury had a ‘massive’ bearing on helping to gain a foothold against Stuart Kettlewell’s outfit.
He stated [Cited via The Celtic Way]: “Yeah, it’s massive for us. You see, when he comes into the game, there’s no trouble.
“The big guy up front (Theo Bair) gave us a problem in the first half with his strength and his size, and Cam comes in and just controls that side of it and allows us to play and get forward quicker because he’s controlling that along with Scalesy. So, him (Carter-Vickers) coming back is huge for us.”
Cameron Carter-Vickers is a pivotal player for Celtic
Celtic aren’t the same team without Carter-Vickers, and his comeback has occurred at the perfect time, given the Hoops have been shaky from a defensive perspective in recent matches.
In his 29-minute cameo, the Southend-born man provided a calming influence from deep, completing 25 out of his 27 attempted passes (93%) alongside coming out on top in 100% of his aerial duels [Sofascore].
Staying fit will be the aim for Carter-Vickers, who could play a key role during the season run-in at the heart of the Bhoys’ rearguard.
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