Motherwell 1-4 Celtic: Forwards find their shooting boots as Celtic keep in touch

CELTIC secured the win required to keep their faint title hopes alive and in doing so posted a performance which provided some succour for Gordon Strachan. The afternoon represented the day Celtic found their shooting boots again, after a period in which their hesitancy in front of goal led to circumstances where Strachan had found himself increasingly isolated.

Yet he retained faith in his players, particularly out-of-touch strikers Scott McDonald and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink. Both combined to help Strachan out of a hole yesterday in conditions which were far from conducive to good football. With Rangers seven points out in front at the top of the Scottish Premier League prior to kick-off yesterday, Strachan's chief desire was for a win, but the four goals were a supremely welcome bonus as well. Celtic had managed to strike only four times in total in their previous seven matches.

Despite Motherwell having managed to bring themselves level soon after Stephen McManus's opener, Celtic scored twice more before half-time and provided relief for Strachan. The thawing in the frosty relationship between the manager and the club's fans did not extend to his name being chanted from the away stands. Only Neil Lennon, on the touchline after his return to the club as coach, was honoured to this extent. However, with many having sensed a possible denouement for Strachan here at Fir Park, the afternoon was a satisfying one for the Celtic manager.

His attempt to instil some urgency into the side led to Massimo Donati being dropped, with Paul Hartley and Barry Robson paired together in the middle of the park in the absence of the suspended Scott Brown. Both were vital elements in the vital victory.

McDonald, whose public show of disgust at being replaced during last weekend's defeat to Motherwell applied more pressure on Strachan, also kept his place, and responded with only his second goal in his last eight appearances.

The match was a personal triumph for Vennegoor of Hesselink, someone else with something to prove to his own supporters. He scored twice, with his second goal – a well-struck drive into the corner of the net – settling the issue just ten minutes after half-time. Thereafter the game entered a rather less riveting period, with Strachan able to let his mind wander ahead to Wednesday night's Old Firm clash. This really does present his team with the chance to eat into Rangers' lead at the top of the SPL. Vennegoor of Hesselink was replaced by Georgios Samaras ten minutes from the end, and McDonald made way for Chris Killen. Both will need to display the sharpness shown yesterday, and more, on Wednesday.

Few could deny Celtic's performance had redeeming properties for Strachan, whose fraying relationship with the Celtic fans continues to be a central talking point. Strachan later claimed Celtic had played better in last Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Motherwell, and the different outcome yesterday owed much to the improved quality of his side's final ball into the box and the determination of the strikers to get on the end of these deliveries. Motherwell were often out-muscled rather than out-classed.

The second clash between these sides in eight days produced a more positive outcome as far as Strachan was concerned, although it was not without its anxieties. McManus cancelled out his own opening goal, knocking the ball into the net when attempting to clear Ross McCormack's effort after a fine run from Stephen Hughes. Minutes earlier, McManus had shown true captain's qualities when straining every sinew in his neck to meet a Shunsuke Nakamura free-kick which had been headed on by Gary Caldwell.

It is fortunate that the goals – in the spirit of the weekend – flowed easily since this was an untidy match, where players kicked up clouds of sand each time they kicked the ball. McDonald edged his side ahead on the half-hour mark with a well-controlled volley against his old side, while Vennegoor of Hesselink claimed a goal two minutes before half-time with a powerful header from Robson's corner. The game might have been ignited had Alan Freeland seen fit to penalise McManus just after Celtic's third goal, with the defender appearing to bundle Paul Quinn off his feet as he bore down on goal.

Freeland waved away the Motherwell appeals for a penalty, and had infuriated the home supporters on a number of occasions in the first half, most obviously when he failed to notice Robson's hand-ball as he went to challenge for a cross. The referee was not winning friends in the Celtic camp either, with Vennegoor of Hesselink left to howl his frustrations after being penalised time and time again when competing in the air for the ball. Indeed, just a minute before he planted a header past Graeme Smith, he was booked for what Freeland judged to be persistent fouling.

In comparison with the opening 45 minutes, the second half was a far tamer affair, and included only one further goal. It was, though, the decisive strike. Vennegoor of Hesselink capitalised on Motherwell's failure to clear a throw-in, drilling the ball home from 12 yards. His exaggerated celebration pointed to a player who is alert to those who continue to doubt his qualities, although these critics must acknowledge the striker's decent return of 18 goals this season.

Motherwell had one further chance, but Hughes could not provide a thrilling run with the finish required to beat Artur Boruc. The goalkeeper felt comfortable enough to respond to those Celtic supporters behind his goal urging him to give them a wave. On Wednesday night at Parkhead, things are likely to be more tense.

Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell, Hughes, McLean, Fitzpatrick (Darren Smith 71), Lappin (McGarry 57), McCormack, Porter (Murphy 82). Subs not used: Daniels, Lasley, Forbes, Archdeacon.

Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Robson, Hartley, McGeady, McDonald (Killen 86), Vennegoor of Hesselink (Samaras 82). Subs not used: Mark Brown, Sno, Caddis, Mizuno, Balde.

Man of the match: Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (Celtic)

Showed more bite and hunger as well as sharpness in front of goal. Both his strikes were well finished and his hold-up play was better. Only frustration was a booking for persistent fouling, but this, too, signalled a renewed zest.

Strachan's revitalised strikers hold key to title defence

CELTIC manager Gordon Strachan described his strikers as being revitalised as they prepare for what amounts to a last chance to hold on to their Scottish Premier League title against Rangers on Wednesday night.

Yesterday's 4-1 win over Motherwell repaired some of the damage wreaked by a 1-0 reverse against the same side eight days previously. Celtic could find themselves just a single point behind Rangers at the top of the SPL if they win at Parkhead in midweek, although the Ibrox side do have two games in hand. There is another Old Firm clash to come later this month, again at Parkhead.

"It would be nice to make the league more interesting, that's for sure," said Strachan, when asked about Celtic's prospects on Wednesday night. He also broached the subject of recent criticism, although he said he had not discussed the barbed comments from some fans with his players.

"It's not entered into our conversation," he said. "Who's criticising them? Are they worth listening to?"

Yesterday was the right time for Scott McDonald and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink to find some form after their recent troubles in front of goal. The former scored with a sweet volley while Vennegoor of Hesselink claimed a double. "They are feeling better about themselves," said Strachan. "It shows you what a few goals can do. They can turn a committed performance into a great performance."

Strachan wished to point out that he still considered Celtic to have played better in last Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Motherwell, a scoreline which led to a barrage of jeers being directed at the manager. Yesterday had the makings of another uncomfortable afternoon for Strachan, but Celtic staged a fine recovery after skipper Stephen McManus had cancelled out his own opening goal in the 24th minute. The defender swept Ross McCormack's shot into his own net as he attempted to clear. "We finished a lot better today but we played far better football last week," said Strachan. "That's football, though."

The Celtic manager stressed that it was impossible to play good football on a pitch such as Motherwell's, where over-use combined with prolonged bad weather has left it rutted and completely devoid of grass in areas. This wasn't helped by a football he described as being "like a King Edward". He added: "I could have bought something better for a fiver."

The significant issue yesterday was that Motherwell could not cope with the physical presence of Vennegoor of Hesselink, nor did they deal with the crosses Celtic whipped in to great effect. "Every time Celtic got a free-kick or a corner they looked like they might score," said Motherwell manager Mark McGhee. "But I thought we played a hell of a lot better than last week. We matched them in a lot of areas."

Motherwell are still firmly in control of their own destiny when it comes to claiming third place, and the European place which comes with it. As for Celtic, the odds on them retaining their title are longer. "If Celtic win on Wednesday everyone will feel quite different about the title race," commented McGhee. "The question is whether they can reproduce a performance like today against Rangers."