NEIL LENNON was unhappy last week that none of his players was nominated for the PFA Scotland player of the year award.
What chance the Celtic manager being similarly thwarted? Lennon is the favourite to be chosen as manager of the year on the back of winning the title, taking his team into the William Hill Scottish Cup final and, most importantly, a European adventure that included a win over Barcelona.
Here, though, was further evidence as to why Stuart McCall will also be in contention. This well-deserved victory ensures European football once more for Motherwell next season and effectively guarantees they will finish as best of the rest behind the champions. Given the limited resources at his disposal, it is not difficult to make a case for McCall to get the nod ahead of Lennon for the personal accolades dished out at this time of year. And goodness knows how Celtic would react in that eventuality. There was always a chance that Lennon's remark that none of the four nominees for the player of the year award would get in his team would come back to haunt him, and so it proved.
Michael Higdon, whose goals helped him on to the shortlist, added another to his tally when he converted a penalty to put Motherwell 2-1 in front early in the second half. It was Higdon's 25th league goal of the season – his 26th overall – making him only the fourth non-Old Firm player to reach that mark in the modern era. His celebration, nonchalantly brushing both shoulders, suggested he had heard Lennon's comments too. "What celebration?" Higdon said later, innocently. "Oh that – water off a duck's back," he added with a grin.
Motherwell were worthy winners in the end with Henrik Ojamaa, in particular, a persistent threat. The first half had been evenly contested but McCall's side stepped it up after the break to take advantage of an unfamiliar Celtic defence which conceded a penalty and then a bizarre own goal.
It was a fifth away game in succession without a win for Lennon's side although, with the championship already in the bag, they may argue that it matters little in the bigger picture. Those who donned parkas and pacamacs to brave the wintry elements were rewarded with a game that started slowly, as lunchtime kick-offs often do, before warming up nicely as the sun eventually poked out from behind the clouds.
Motherwell's need was obviously greater as they looked to nail down second spot but Celtic, even with six changes, still endeavoured to match them step for step in the early stages. What unfolded was a genuine end-to-end contest that did not stint in either talking points or goalmouth incident. First versus second in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League provided a game to match that billing. By half-time the teams still could not be separated. Both goals came late in the half, Celtic getting their noses in front after 40 minutes before Motherwell pegged them back in injury time.
Celtic's goal owed a lot to Tony Watt, the young forward afforded a rare start. There was plenty for him to do when he assumed possession wide on the left but his pace took him past Simon Ramsden to the goal line where Darren Randolph, perhaps unwisely, darted from his goal to meet him. Watt got there first to chip an enticing ball that Gary Hooper somehow headed against the crossbar from a handful of yards. Any embarrassment would be temporary, however, as Hooper quickly fastened on to the loose ball to thud it into the net.
Motherwell's equaliser was equally well worked – Keith Lasley moving deftly to send Ojamaa running clear, the Estonian cutting across Charlie Mulgrew before fizzing in a low shot that beat Fraser Forster at his near post. Motherwell felt they should have had a penalty when a Lasley header brushed against Thomas Rogne's arm with the game still goalless but they did get one just four minutes into the second half, Mulgrew clipping Ojamaa's heels as the pair chased a ball into the Celtic penalty box. It seemed a mite unfortunate – it looked like an accidental coming-together – but Higdon's kick was true and sure. Five minutes later and Motherwell extended their lead. Tom Hateley's cross was aimed at Higdon, who had drifted into an offside position, but instead found Mikael Lustig who headed against his own post, only for the ball to cannon against Forster and dribble over the line.
James McFadden is thought to be on Celtic's radar once more and there were moments of skill from the forward that might have given Lennon food for thought as he considers his summer options. One mazy first-half dribble took McFadden past a number of challenges before sending a shot just wide of the post. Then came a galloping second-half run that brought McFadden face to face with Forster, the Englishman saving well from close range. Both goalkeepers, in fact, made timely interventions at different points of the game. Randolph, out of contract in the summer, showed any watching clubs what he is capable of with a smart save to keep out Mulgrew's first-half free kick, then an even more impressive stop to deny Hooper.
Celtic made three substitutions to try to get back into the game but to no avail, Anthony Stokes striking a post in the closing moments. This was Motherwell's day.
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