Celtic 4-0 Motherwell

 Highlights - Celtic 4-0 Motherwell

Celtic cruised to victory over Motherwell but their efforts were in vain as Rangers took the league title with a win at Kilmarnock.

First-half goals from Gary Hooper and Georgios Samaras put the home side in firm control.

Lee Hollis made his debut in the Motherwell goal and produced some fine saves to keep the score down.

Shaun Maloney and Paddy McCourt added strikes to put Celtic's Scottish Cup final opponents to the sword.

Stuart McCall's side put any suggestions that they may have one eye on Hampden to bed less than a minute into the match. They almost caught Celtic cold when the ball broke to Steve Jones in the penalty area but the winger dragged his shot wide.

Celtic registered their first effort on seven minutes, with Samaras going through on goal but Hollis did well to turn his powerful drive wide.

James Forrest then tried his luck from 20 yards but his effort sailed over the bar.

Lennon tells fans 'I'm here to stay'

Hollis was called into action again in the 10th minute. Gary Hooper collected a pass from Emilio Izaguire, turned and cracked a fierce strike from 20 yards, but again Hollis was equal to it.

Shaun Hutchison wasted a wonderful chance for the visitors 10 minutes later, heading a Tom Hateley corner over from five yards out having beaten Daniel Majstorovic in the air.

Gary Hooper then went close for Celtic, driving at the Motherwell defence and turning inside Gavin Gunning but Hollis raced out and spread himself to block the shot. Brown could only put the rebound wide of the post.

Hutchison then went close to putting through his own net twice in three minutes.

He first headed a Ki Sung-Yeung corner just inches wide of his own goal under pressure from Majstorovic. The defender then cut out a Samaras cross aimed for Hooper, but diverted the ball just over Hollis' crossbar.

The home side took the lead on the half hour, and it was no surprise that the lively Hooper was the man to break the stalemate.

The ex-Scunthorpe striker turned smartly in the box and saw his initial attempt on goal blocked, but he reacted sharply to stab a finish which Hollis could not keep out despite getting a hand to the ball.

Ki was denied twice by the 'Well goalkeeper in as many minutes as the debutant continued to keep his side in the match.

The second goal did come for Celtic five minutes from half-time however.

Samaras fed Charlie Mulgrew on the left-flank and continued his run into the penalty area. Mulgrew played in the Greek striker with a lovely return pass, and Samaras made no mistake with a side-foot finish from eight yards.

Samaras went close again on the stroke of half-time, racing onto a Ki pass over the top of the defence and attempting a lob over Hollis, but the keeper magnificently tipped the ball over.

Maloney came on at half-time and almost scored within a minute of entering the fray, but he curled his shot just wide of the post.

Samaras scored his third SPL goal of the season

The winger had only to wait another six minutes to get on the score sheet.

Maloney picked the ball up and drove into the Motherwell penalty area. He shaped to shoot with his right, but dropped a shoulder to leave two defenders bamboozled and coolly despatched a left-foot finish.

With 20 minutes remaining, Celtic added a fourth, and again Maloney was at the heart of it.

The former Aston Villa man put a dangerous cross into the penalty area which found Samaras. The Greece international was dispossessed but the ball broke to substitute McCourt who lashed home from eight yards.

The remainder of the second-half was reminiscent of a training match with the vistors well beaten and Neil Lennon's team fully aware that events at Rugby Park meant that the title would not be coming to Parkhead.

Sunday, 15 May 2011

Scottish Premier

Hooper 29Samaras 40Maloney 53McCourt 71Final Result Full Time 90:00+1:02 The referee blows for the end of the match. 89:55 The referee blows for offside against Esteban Casagolda. Free kick taken by Daniel Majstorovic. 88:36 Sung-Yeung Ki takes the free kick. 88:36 Booking Stewart Carswell is booked. 88:28 Stewart Carswell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Scott Brown. 87:51 Tom Hateley fouled by Gary Hooper, the ref awards a free kick. Tom Hateley takes the direct free kick. 87:01 Shaun Maloney has shot on goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright. 86:46 Sung-Yeung Ki takes a shot. Blocked by Gary Hooper. 83:54 Corner from the right by-line taken by Tom Hateley, Close range header by Steven Saunders goes over the bar. 83:25 Free kick awarded for a foul by Sung-Yeung Ki on Stewart Carswell. Stevie Hammell restarts play with the free kick. 81:32 Patrick McCourt produces a cross, save by Lee Hollis. 79:51 Free kick awarded for a foul by Stewart Carswell on Scott Brown. Shaun Maloney shoots direct from the free kick. 78:24 Sung-Yeung Ki fouled by Jonathan Page, the ref awards a free kick. Charlie Mulgrew takes the free kick. 77:07 Steve Jones produces a cross, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Daniel Majstorovic by Esteban Casagolda. Fraser Forster restarts play with the free kick. 74:16 Substitution Georgios Samaras leaves the field to be replaced by Efrain Juarez. 73:56 Substitution Esteban Casagolda is brought on as a substitute for Francis Jeffers. 73:49 The ball is crossed by Steve Jones. 73:25 Patrick McCourt takes a shot. Save by Lee Hollis. 70:50 Georgios Samaras provided the assist for the goal. 70:50 GOAL - Patrick McCourt:Celtic 4 - 0 Motherwell Patrick McCourt scores a goal from inside the penalty area low into the middle of the goal. Celtic 4-0 Motherwell. 69:35 Daniel Majstorovic takes the free kick. 69:35 Substitution Robert McHugh is brought on as a substitute for Chris Humphrey. 69:35 Foul by Ross Forbes on Gary Hooper, free kick awarded. 69:15 The ball is delivered by Tom Hateley. 67:22 Free kick awarded for a foul by Stewart Carswell on Scott Brown. Direct free kick taken by Mark Wilson. 65:16 Substitution James Forrest goes off and Patrick McCourt comes on. 65:16 Substitution Jonathan Page on for Shaun Hutchinson. 64:03 Corner taken by Sung-Yeung Ki from the right by-line played to the near post, Daniel Majstorovic produces a header from inside the six-yard box that clears the bar. 63:49 Gary Hooper takes a shot. Stewart Carswell gets a block in. 62:25 Francis Jeffers is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Sung-Yeung Ki takes the indirect free kick. 58:25 Centre by Tom Hateley, blocked by Daniel Majstorovic. 57:46 Foul by Sung-Yeung Ki on Ross Forbes, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Steven Saunders. 56:40 The referee blows for offside against Sung-Yeung Ki. Indirect free kick taken by Lee Hollis. 55:43 The assistant referee signals for offside against Gary Hooper. Lee Hollis restarts play with the free kick. 52:25 GOAL - Shaun Maloney:Celtic 3 - 0 Motherwell Shaun Maloney gets on the score sheet with a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Celtic 3-0 Motherwell. 50:12 The ball is swung over by Ross Forbes, Daniel Majstorovic makes a clearance. 45:11 Shot by Shaun Maloney from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal. 45:01 The referee gets the second half started. 45:01 Substitution Shaun Maloney on for Emilio Izaguirre. Half Time 45:00+2:27 The ref blows to signal half-time. 45:00+2:03 Corner taken short by Sung-Yeung Ki. 45:00+1:44 Georgios Samaras takes a shot. Save by Lee Hollis. 45:00+0:59 Steve Jones crosses the ball, Glenn Loovens manages to make a clearance. 44:03 The ball is sent over by Charlie Mulgrew, clearance made by Shaun Hutchinson. 42:50 Centre by Charlie Mulgrew, Stewart Carswell manages to make a clearance. 42:25 Georgios Samaras fouled by Shaun Hutchinson, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Sung-Yeung Ki. 41:30 James Forrest delivers the ball, clearance made by Gavin Gunning. 39:30 Assist on the goal came from Charlie Mulgrew. 39:30 GOAL - Georgios Samaras:Celtic 2 - 0 Motherwell Georgios Samaras fires in a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Celtic 2-0 Motherwell. 39:26 Charlie Mulgrew sends in a cross, 38:59 Sung-Yeung Ki takes a shot. Save by Lee Hollis. 37:14 Corner taken right-footed by Sung-Yeung Ki from the right by-line to the near post, Stewart Carswell makes a clearance. 37:01 Sung-Yeung Ki takes a shot. Save by Lee Hollis. 36:33 Corner taken short by Sung-Yeung Ki. Charlie Mulgrew produces a cross, Shaun Hutchinson manages to make a clearance. 35:09 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on James Forrest by Shaun Hutchinson. Glenn Loovens takes the free kick. 34:33 Corner from the right by-line taken by Tom Hateley, Scott Brown manages to make a clearance. 34:02 Shaun Hutchinson takes the direct free kick. 34:02 Booking James Forrest is booked. 33:41 Unfair challenge on Gavin Gunning by James Forrest results in a free kick. 32:43 Steven Saunders crosses the ball, blocked by Charlie Mulgrew. 32:08 James Forrest sends in a cross, Shaun Hutchinson manages to make a clearance. 31:59 The ball is swung over by Charlie Mulgrew, clearance by Steve Jones. 31:14 Francis Jeffers is ruled offside. Fraser Forster takes the free kick. 29:00 Mark Wilson provided the assist for the goal. 29:00 GOAL - Gary Hooper:Celtic 1 - 0 Motherwell A goal is scored by Gary Hooper from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Celtic 1-0 Motherwell. 28:53 The ball is delivered by Mark Wilson. 28:04 Sung-Yeung Ki takes a inswinging corner. 27:12 Corner taken by Sung-Yeung Ki, clearance made by Chris Humphrey. 26:53 A cross is delivered by Georgios Samaras, clearance made by Shaun Hutchinson. 26:38 Tom Hateley takes a shot. Save by Fraser Forster. 23:33 Corner taken right-footed by Sung-Yeung Ki. 23:12 Corner taken right-footed by Sung-Yeung Ki from the left by-line, Shaun Hutchinson makes a clearance. 23:01 Daniel Majstorovic takes a shot. Blocked by Shaun Hutchinson. 22:33 Unfair challenge on James Forrest by Ross Forbes results in a free kick. Sung-Yeung Ki takes the direct free kick. 22:17 Francis Jeffers concedes a free kick for a foul on Glenn Loovens. Free kick taken by Daniel Majstorovic. 21:39 James Forrest takes a shot. Shaun Hutchinson gets a block in. Correction - 21:06 Francis Jeffers takes a shot from 6 yards. 21:06 Francis Jeffers has an effort at goal from close in which goes wide right of the target. 19:39 Scott Brown has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal. 18:14 Tom Hateley takes the outswinging corner, Shaun Hutchinson produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar. 17:46 Daniel Majstorovic concedes a free kick for a foul on Francis Jeffers. Free kick crossed left-footed by Ross Forbes, clearance by Daniel Majstorovic. 16:00 Francis Jeffers concedes a free kick for a foul on Emilio Izaguirre. Daniel Majstorovic takes the direct free kick. 15:26 Corner taken right-footed by Sung-Yeung Ki from the left by-line, Scott Brown takes a shot. Steven Saunders gets a block in. 14:21 James Forrest delivers the ball, clearance made by Gavin Gunning. 14:14 A cross is delivered by Gary Hooper. 13:15 Georgios Samaras challenges Stevie Hammell unfairly and gives away a free kick. Lee Hollis takes the free kick. 11:46 Gavin Gunning concedes a free kick for a foul on Gary Hooper. Mark Wilson restarts play with the free kick. 10:38 Ross Forbes has an effort at goal from long range that misses to the right of the target. 9:25 Gary Hooper takes a shot. Save made by Lee Hollis. 8:21 Shot from just outside the area by James Forrest goes over the bar. 8:01 Georgios Samaras takes a shot. Save by Lee Hollis. 6:33 The ball is crossed by Mark Wilson. 5:11 Scott Brown challenges Ross Forbes unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ross Forbes delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, clearance by Sung-Yeung Ki. 2:26 Shaun Hutchinson challenges Georgios Samaras unfairly and gives away a free kick. A cross is delivered by Sung-Yeung Ki, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Daniel Majstorovic misses to the left of the goal. 0:46 Steve Jones produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the target. 0:00 The game begins. Live text and data provided by The Press Association.