Celtic and Martin O’Neill answer doubters as fans renew assault on board amid 533-day comeback boost

Goals in either half from Camilo Duran and Benjamin Nygren secure three precious points that Celtic could ill afford to surrender after Rangers leapfrogged them briefly at the summit with a victory at home to Kilmarnock on Saturday.

That added to the growing pressure on O’Neill and his players to deliver a statement win of their own and the reigning champions responded with a performance of considerable authority, albeit one that should have yielded a more substantial winning margin.

After a period of “short reflection” that led O’Neill to contemplate his future during the extended international break following a dismal run of the defeats, the result represented an important intervention in a season threatening to become defined as much by internal discord as by events on the field.

However, the clash in North Lanarkshire provided evidence that Celtic retain the capacity to respond to adversity. Whether the same can be said of the club’s wider difficulties remains a more uncertain proposition.

The travelling supporters made their position clear. A large tifo honouring Danny McGrain, recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, was unveiled before kick-off, bearing the words ‘Celtic’s on the ball again’. It offered a reminder of Celtic’s history and the enduring attachment of its support to those who have represented it with distinction.

A minute’s applause was also held in memory of Brian McCafferty, the former Motherwell club and Well Society chairman, who died aged 79 following a battle with cancer last month.

Thereafter, the mood became more confrontational. A banner directed at majority shareholder Dermot Desmond read ‘Desmond out of bounds, Celtic in the rough’, while another depicted his face crossed through with a red line in the second half. The demonstrations continued the expression of discontent seen during the recent tennis-ball protest at St Andrews and illustrated the extent to which the dispute between fans and the Celtic hierarchy has endured.

The visitors had encountered difficulties before the match kicked off, with one of their team buses breaking down on route. It proved only a minor inconvenience.

How Motherwell 0-2 Celtic unfolded

Motherwell began with purpose and came close to taking the lead after five minutes. A long ball from Emmanuel Longelo caught out Celtic’s rear-guard and sent Seb Palmer-Houlden through on goal, but Liam Scales recovered in the nick of time to block the striker’s effort.

Three minutes later, Celtic demonstrated the greater efficiency that would ultimately separate the sides. A neat interchange involving Colby Donovan and captain Callum McGregor released Durán, who recovered the ball after a fortunate ricochet before driving a low shot beyond Alex Paulsen at his near post from the edge of the penalty box. It was Celtic’s first effort on target and the Colombian’s seventh of the campaign.

The goal unsettled Motherwell. Longelo cleared a Durán shot off the goal-line, while Paulsen was required to make a succession of saves to prevent the deficit from widening. Mika Baur, fresh from making his debut for Germany during the international break, was particularly influential, although the midfielder was unable to convert several promising opportunities.

Sebastien Tounekti also threatened from the left, and Celtic’s movement repeatedly exposed gaps in the home defence. Motherwell, whose early-season performances under Alfred Johansson had attracted praise for their technical ambition, struggled to turn spells of possession into sustained attacking threat.

There were intermittent reminders of their potential. Lukas Fadinger forced Viljami Sinisalo into a smart save. Yet the home side reached the interval fortunate to be only a goal behind. Celtic had created sufficient opportunities to establish a more comfortable lead, but their finishing lacked the precision their build-up play deserved.

The pattern continued after the restart and Celtic’s second goal arrived in the 59th minute. It was a reward for both persistence and intelligent forward play. Kasper Hogh beat Stephen O’Donnell to the ball and advanced into the penalty area before squaring unselfishly to Nygren. The Swede rounded Paulsen and lifted the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

The introduction of Jota in the 73rd minute provided a further encouragement for Celtic. The Portuguese winger, absent for 18 months following an anterior cruciate ligament injury, received a warm reception on his return from a 533-day absence from the travelling support as he returned to competitive action.

By the final whistle, Celtic had achieved the immediate objective of returning to the summit, ending their three-match losing run and a measure of stability after weeks of uncertainty. Their sixth consecutive away league victory offered further evidence of their resilience.