Celtic beat Motherwell 2-1 in Paradise yesterday to regain their two point lead at the summit of the Scottish Premiership.
Ange Postecoglou’s champions opened the scoring after Kyogo smashed home from Matt O’Riley’s saved header, and looked set to build on their dominance.
However, a miscommunication at the back gave Motherwell a route back into the game via Josip Juranovic’s own-goal before half-time.
Motherwell offered little in an attacking sense and Reo Hatate made sure that the visitors wouldn’t leave with an undeserved point when he lashed home a stunner from outside the box to regain the lead for the Hoops.
There was still time for some late drama as Callum McGregor was issued a straight red card for hauling down Ross Tierney who looked set to break clean through on Joe Hart’s goal from Hatate’s under-hit backpass, but Celtic held on for all three points.
Here’s the three big takeaway’s from yesterday’s game:
McGregor typically leading by example
If ever a game demonstrated the many facets of McGregor’s game, it was this one – the captain was his irrepressible, always-available self, but played a huge part in a couple of key moments too.
It was McGregor who drove forward through Celtic’s left half-space before freeing Jota to cross for O’Riley in the build-up to the first goal, before almost certainly saving two points when he had no hesitation in hauling down Ross Tierney with only a few minutes left on the clock.
Celtic will need to do without him for next weekend’s trip to McDiarmid Park to face St Johnstone, but with the captain’s intensive schedule so far this season, he’s overdue a break. It’ll be down to his replacement, be it Oliver Abildgaard or Aaron Mooy, to make sure his absence isn’t costly.
Hatate’s baffling international absence is to Celtic’s benefit
Though McGregor’s performance was typical and expected, another who is approaching that level of consistency for Celtic is Reo Hatate.
The Japan star was arguably yesterday’s standout performer, not just scoring a spectacular winner but consistently picking holes with his pinpoint passing and positive movement. His under-hit back-pass that led to McGregor’s red was the only error of note in another impressive outing.
Which of course, makes his absence for his international side all the more difficult to understand. Hatate played no part in Japan’s international friendlies over the break and it looks as if he won’t be headed to the World Cup in Qatar. Whilst this will be a tough one to take for the 24-year-old, it’s to Celtic’s benefit if that’s the case. Even accounting for the summer close-season, Hatate has played a considerable amount of football in the last two years and another managed absence during the league’s break will serve him well for the second half of Celtic’s campaign.
Carter-Vickers’ and Starfelt’s absences felt not just in defence
Whilst the obvious concern when a pair of first-choice centre halves are injured would obviously be the impact on a team’s defensive capabilities, Celtic are feeling the dual absence of their main defenders in an attacking sense, too.
Though Stephen Welsh and Moritz Jenz have their individual strengths, neither are as capable on the ball as Cameron Carter-Vickers or Carl Starfelt, an issue that has been felt in the last couple of domestic games as Celtic have struggled to accurately progress the ball into midfield quickly, and with purpose, limiting the team’s creative potential.
It isn’t a slight on Welsh or Jenz to suggest that the team will benefit greatly from the re-introduction of either of the first-choice pair when they find fitness.
In other news: International coach’s high praise for Celtic hero as hype abroad revealed
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