Motherwell 1 – 3 Celtic

An emotional Jota marked his Celtic return with a objective as they eased to a 3-1 victory towards managerless Motherwell at Fir Park.

The winger began on the bench rejoining the Scottish champions from Rennes and watched on as Daizen Maeda headed within the opener after simply 49 seconds.

Luke Armstrong levelled on his first Motherwell begin earlier than Adam Idah fired in from Maeda’s cross to retake the lead earlier than the break.

VAR saved Tom Sparrow’s blushes as his own-goal was dominated out for offside with Nicolas Kuhn’s spectacular overhead effort additionally disallowed.

Jota confirmed flashes of his finest when he arrived late on earlier than getting on the tip of Maeda’s ball in stoppage time to make it 3-1 earlier than bursting into tears because the Hoops followers sang his identify.

Celtic stay 10 factors clear on the high of the Premiership with Motherwell sixth.

Jota’s good return for dominant Hoops

Celtic, led by Callum McGregor on his five hundredth look, by no means regarded again after Idah netted from shut vary within the twenty ninth minute having ended a 14-game objective drought with a midweek double towards Aston Villa.

Maeda received in behind Marvin Kaleta and reduce the ball throughout the face of objective earlier than repositioning himself to move house Anthony Ralston’s cross after rising above the wing-back.

The Steelmen had been again degree halfway by means of the half when two gamers making their first begins mixed.

Dom Thompson’s cross bounced off Auston Trusty and Armstrong completed first time. Cameron Carter-Vickers claimed the on-loan Carlisle participant had pushed him within the again because the cross got here in however there was no VAR assessment.

Nevertheless, Celtic had been again forward six minutes later. Luke McCowan’s first-time cross received Maeda in behind Kaleta and Idah knocked house the Japan winger’s low cross. Kaleta would quickly go off with an damage.

The guests had two targets disallowed for offside, one coming when Idah was penalised after firing the ball in off Sparrow earlier than Kuhn was flagged after scoring an overhead kick.

Motherwell caretaker Stephen Frail introduced on new signings Luke Plange and Will Dickson to complement their strike pressure whereas Celtic’s restricted choices up entrance had been highlighted when winger Yang Hyun-jun changed Idah and Maeda moved into the centre.

Yang had a scuffed shot saved earlier than Jota dribbled previous a number of gamers and noticed his run halted on the sting of the field.

However the Portuguese winger received his second 4 minutes into stoppage time and delivered a trademark raised-fist celebration in entrance of the visiting followers.

Rodgers delight for Jota as he seems to switch deadline

Celtic supervisor Brendan Rodgers chatting with Sky Sports activities:

“He’s [Jota] obviously a long way away from the fitness level that he would need to be at, to be in the team, but he’s certainly going to build himself there.

“However what you may see in that cameo was his high quality. He has tips, he has the flexibility, he takes care of the ball, he can run it behind, and he has an eye fixed for a objective.

“I’m so pleased for him. It’s been a really challenging period for him and his time away, but he knows that everyone appreciates him here, everyone loves him here.

When asked about more signings before Monday’s transfer deadline, Rodgers added: “That’s our plan. There’s plenty of work occurring behind the scenes to be able to try this, so we’re hopeful that we will.

“We want to have the strongest squad we possibly can. We’ve lost a couple of players that were important players for our squad, but also players have gone out on loan so we know we want to get into the market to have the strongest squad we can to finish off the season.

“There’s at all times a mentality round you may’t get good gamers [in January] but when there’s availability and we will afford it, then I wish to assume that we might try this.”

What the pundits said of Jota’s return

Former Celtic winger Aiden McGeady:

“I don’t really understand the crying. Each to their own, he obviously feels emotional coming back here.

“It is vital for him to really feel needed at a membership as a result of he is had a troublesome final 12 months and a half.

“When he came on, he’s the type of player I love watching. Very, very lively and gets the crowd off their seat.”

Former Motherwell striker James McFadden:

“I think Kyogo leaving is a blow and the fans are well aware of the loss he is, but there’s no doubt that Jota in his spell here the first time was outstanding and fully deserving of the pricetag.

“A number of the followers had been clearly devastated to see him go away so to get him again with what seems like the most effective years forward of him, then after all they’re completely delighted.

“I agree it’ll take him time to get up to speed but he looked sharp and his deliveries were decent and gets himself on the scoresheet.

“A terrific signing and just the start for him at this time.”

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