Celtic’s u-19 side moved back to the top of the league with a convincing 4-1 win over St Mirren today.
Hamilton Accies had overtaken Stevie Frails side when Celtic were on SFA Cup duty last weekend but had their match with St Johnstone abandoned due to fog on Friday.
James Forest marked his return to the Celtic side with a double with Greg Spence and Johny Marsden the other scorers.
The u-19 side face Aberdeen next Saturday in their final league match before the winter break and have been drawn away to Dundee United in the quarter-finals of the SFA Youth Cup.
Meanwhile along at Fir Park the best and worst of Celtic was on display as Tony Mowbray’s side clocked up their fourth win on the bounce.
Three goal of the season candidates delivered the points but sloppy defending and a missed penalty ensured that Celtic had to work extra hard to secure the points.
The most welcome aspect of the game was Marco Fortune’s glorious 79th minute winner- delivered after being on the park for 50 seconds.
It was a great move from Gary Caldwell’s crossfield pass finding Fortune who exchanged passes with Scott McDonald before the former Nancy striker sent an unstoppable drive past Motherwell ‘keeper John Ruddy from 25 yards out.
After the recent scary performances at Falkirk and Dundee United there was an anxiety about the closing minutes but seeing the game out should give the team confidence going into a crucial run of matches.
Three wins against Hearts, Hamilton and Rangers should see the team move into the new year in style and on today’s performance there was lots to be optimistic about.
Tony Mowbray resisted the temptation to highlight his inspired substitution but was clearly delighted by the impact that his record signing made.
The Celtic boss said: “It has been a tough period for him,I don’t want to shout from the rooftops, but that’s why he is here.
“In my opinion he is a quality football player who can score goals. I’ve seen the evidence of it in six months at West Brom and I am delighted for him and I hope it gives him a lift.
“As a human being it is difficult to stay top of the game and injuries affect players in lots of different ways.
“Marco was getting up and running and his injury came at a bad time for him and to spend two and half months out has been a disappointment for him.”
“Marco was getting up and running and his injury came at a bad time for him and to spend two and half months out has been a disappointment for him.”
Fortune added: “I am happy because I have been waiting for this goal for a long time. When you go to a new club you want to show what you can do but the injury came and it has been difficult.
“But I kept going and today is maybe the start of the season for me.”
