Stuart Kettlewell’s reason for ‘game management’ tactics vs Celtic

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I think all Celtic fans will agree that yesterday’s 1-1 draw against Motherwell was a tough watch.

Celtic were far from their fluent best. Even at 1-0 up we still couldn’t get going.

Our own performance, coupled with Motherwell’s clear intentions of slowing the game down at every opportunity made the 97-minute game feel like an eternity.

Speaking post-match after the 1-1 draw, Kettlewell was told that his side’s game management tactics may raise some eyebrows.

If the tactics weren’t enough to do that, the Motherwell manager’s response to the question will.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Kettlewell said, “I’ve been involved in the game for a long long time and people may raise eyebrows about game management etc. It’s not a fair fight. I said that before the game so again, this is where I’m really, really consistent.

“When you look at the level of finance at Celtic have, you look at the international star-studded squad that they have here. Then by no means do I think it’s any way cheating. But we have to slow the game down and we have to break the rhythm at times.

“And I think we earned the right to do that through the game today. I really do. I think we handled ourselves again as a group of staff and players. Exceptional.

“So, you know people may raise their eyebrows in times where guys are injured and getting a bit of treatment and all the rest of it. But you know what, as I say when it’s a complete mismatch in terms of finances, as the two clubs are, I think that people have to give us credit for our performance today.”

In all my time following Celtic, I have never our finances being used as a stick to beat us with for our success as much as I have this season. It’s a tired old excuse.

Is having a club that is so well-run and profitable now a bad thing for Scottish football?

But enough of finances, let’s talk from a fan point of view first.

It was very unusual to see a performance from a Celtic side so flat at home when we have been so imperious.

Our 100% win rate may well be over, but in the grand scheme of things, that point takes us one point closer to the title and that is all that matters.

Celtic require just two more wins to secure the league title should Rangers win at Pittodrie today.

When those wins come, today’s draw will be forgotten about as the Celtic fans celebrate yet another title under Ange Postecoglou.