This Scottish Premier League game is due to kick off at 12:45 GMT, on Saturday, 27 February 2011, at
Fir Park, Motherwell.
Motherwell were surprisingly beaten at home by St Mirren on Wednesday night, so that wasn't exactly the result they would have been looking for ahead of a visit from a rampant Celtic outfit. Their last five results leave the jury still very much out on whether Motherwell manager Stuart McCall has stabilised the team or not and it's hard to say if they're going forward or backward. It seems to change on a game by game basis.
SEASON 3 PREMIERE
Celtic have no such question marks hanging over them. They took a huge step forward in the fight for the SPL title when they crushed a sorry-looking Rangers team 3-0 at Parkhead to move 8 points clear at the top. Celtic are absolutely buzzing now -- from the chairman to the manager to the players to the fans.
We'll get a better perspective of the form that these two sides are likely into the weekend game, if we took a good look at how they have been playing in recent games:
Motherwell's last 5 game record reads...
[Motherwell's score first]
23 February Home 0-1 vs St Mirren
19 February Home 1-0 vs Hamilton Academical
15 February Away 2-1 vs Aberdeen
12 February Away 0-6 vs Rangers
5 February Away 2-0 vs Stranraer (Scottish Cup)
Celtic's last 5 game record reads...
[Celtic's score first]
20 February Home 3-0 vs Rangers
13 February Away 3-1 vs Dundee United
6 February Away 2-2 vs Rangers (Scottish Cup)
1 February Away 3-0 vs Aberdeen
29 January Hampden 4-1 vs Aberdeen (CIS Cup)
Note: In analysing the current form of these two teams, I have taken into account their most recent games, irrespective of whether these were in the Scottish Premier League or not. You can assume that all of the above matches took place in the Scottish Premier League, except where I have specified otherwise, in the brackets.
Celtic, in recent seasons, have found it extremely hard work to win at Fir Park, and the state of the pitch these days certainly won't help alleviate that. Motherwell have been unable, over the course of the last two or three seasons, to provide a decent playing surface much beyond the turn of the year, and that will surely be an equalizing factor for them in this fixture.
Providing Celtic turn up ready to work, their overall quality will ensure a victory for them. They have a very well organised team now, and most of manager Neil Lennon's signings are well bedded in, clear on their roles and responsibilities, and making very positive contributions -- none more so than young Gary Hooper, who is on fire right now and banging in the goals.
Scottish Premier League Preview: Motherwell Vs Celtic SEASON 3 PREMIERE
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