Celtic undone by Twaddle

Celtic spurned the chance of going top last night as Motherwell hung on against the odds to gain a worthy win, even if they played more than half the match on the back foot.

There was much to ponder for Ian Wright as he sat in the grandstand watching the struggles of his new team-mates. At least he should bring some goals to Celtic. They could hardly claim that notice of Motherwell's intentions had not been served on them. In the fifth minute Kevin Twaddle's cross ended with John Spencer's strong header forcing a fine save from Jonathan Gould.

After 15 minutes Ged Brannan produced the pass of the season, a 50-yard ball which split the Celtic defence. Twaddle ran on and finished strongly with a rising shot that gave Motherwell the lead.

Some of that good work was undone in the 34th minute when Mark Burchill, running clear, was adjudged to have been fouled just outside the area. The young striker stayed on his feet and his shot went narrowly wide but the referee had spotted Shaun Teale's little shove and duly sent him off.

Motherwell now had to defend at all costs. Andy Goram turned over a Mark Viduka header from close range.

Celtic were reluctant to attack down the flanks and there was a growing desperation as they tried to penetrate the wall of bodies in front of them.

The second half was one long struggle for Celtic whose endeavour could not be questioned, but whose tactics certainly could. They continued to play through the middle, creating few chances. Their substitute, Harald Brattbakk, probably went closest with a shot which dribbled past the far post.

Celtic: Gould, Riseth, Stubbs, Burley, Mjallby (Tebily 46), Petrov (Wieghorst 64), Lambert, Petta, Moravcik, Burchill (Brattbakk 64), Viduka. Subs Not Used: Kharine, McNamara. Booked: Stubbs.

Motherwell: Goram, Doesburg, McMillan, Brannan, Teale, Spencer (McGowan 37), Valakari, McCulloch (Nevin 54), Goodman, Twaddle (Nicholas 70), Kemble. Subs Not Used: Woods, Townsley. Sent Off: Teale (34). Booked: Brannan. Goals: Twaddle 15. Att: 58,731.

Referee: Douglas MacDonald (Scotland).