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Celtic proved their domestic prowess once again by finally beating Motherwell 3-0 at Parkhead.
The Hoops were knocked out of the Champions League playoffs by Ferencvaros on Wednesday night and were again unconvincing before winger James Forrest scored five minutes before halftime.
The Steelmen, who had failed to win any of their first five league games, had been tenacious and remained so in the second half until Albian Ajeti fired in one second in the 74th minute, just minutes after entering as a substitute, with the defender. Christopher Jullien scores a third in injury time.
In the final analysis, Celtic, aiming for their 10th straight title, had too much for their Premiership opponents as they moved within six points of the Rangers with two games in hand.
Boss Neil Lennon criticized some players after the loss to Ferencvaros, but named an unchanged team that again did not have a recognized striker, Ryan Christie moving from midfield to lead the line once more.
Forwards Patryk Klimala and Ajeti were back on the bench alongside midfielder David Turnbull, who made the switch from Motherwell to Celtic midweek for a reported fee of around € 3.7 million.
Former Celtic forward Tony Watt replaced Callum Lang, who fell to Well’s bench.
Midfielders Mohamed Elyounoussi and Olivier Ntcham had early efforts, but it was a tentative start from the locals and Motherwell slowly grew in confidence.
In the ninth minute, Liam Grimshaw’s shot on the spin from inside Celtic’s penalty area was deflected by Hoops goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas for a corner to nothing.
On defense, the Steelmen looked disciplined and organized and looked like they would come into halftime with their goal intact, but then Forrest struck.
Celtic swept the park and, when the Scotland winger received a pass from Callum McGregor on the edge of the area, defender Ricki Lamie stood up and allowed him to bury a shot from 16 yards behind goalkeeper Trevor Carson for his first goal of the season. .
Seconds before the break, Barkas blocked Watt’s angled shot after a Stephen O’Donnell cross, but again the corner came to nothing.
Polish striker Klimala replaced Elyounoussi for the start of the second period to give Parkhead’s side a more natural focal point with Christie moving out.
Still, Motherwell proved tenacious if rarely threatening in attack.
Just before the hour, with Celtic dominating possession, Klimala couldn’t get right at the end of a tempting cut from Greg Taylor.
Taylor was then replaced by Jeremie Frimpong from the right side when Lennon switched to the 3-5-2 formation, Christie returned to center with Klimala and Forrest switching left.
Ajeti replaced Ntcham to join Klimala with Christie replacing the Frenchman and at last Celtic had two natural forwards on top and it was the unmarked former West Ham striker who grabbed Celtic’s second when he received a pass from Kristoffer Ajer and hammered a shot. from 12 meters beyond the defenseless Carson.
Klimala then had a heads up with Carson and the keeper saved with his feet before Forrest hit the top of the bar with a drive and in overtime Jullien accepted a pass from Frimpong and ran his shot over Carson.
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