Celtic’s new look youth side are determined to retain the SPL title.
That’s the view of hoops coach John Kennedy following yesterday’s convincing 5-2 win away to Motherwell.
A devastating first half display saw Celtic go in 5-0 up at half-time with Tony Watt scoring four of the goals.
Watt came into the side half way through last season following his transfer from Airdrie but for Leo Fasan, Marcus Fraser, Joe Chalmers, Darnell Fisher, John Herron and Paul George it’s a whole new ball game after stepping up from last season’s u-17 side.
With a ten game winning run under their belt in all competitions Kennedy’s side know that winning their four remaining matches will retain the championship with the coach picking up the right signs from the dressing room
“It’s big games at this time of the season,” Kennedy explained. “In terms of Hearts slipping up at the weekend this was probably the biggest game of the season for us.
“We had to capitalise on that or all of our good work would have gone to waste if we hadn’t turned up today. The first half was the best 45 minutes that I’ve seen since I came into this job.
“Chris (McCart) and Tommy (McIntyre) spoke as well and backed that up. It’s a 90 minute game but you’re not going to get that standard of football for a full game..
“They are a hungry bunch of players that want to be successful. They’re not happy just winning games they want to drive each other forward and improve. It’s a joy to work with them every week and we hope that they can continue that through to the end of the season.
“We knew it would be really tough, Motherwell are on a great run of form, but I thought that we came right out the traps, got at them and scored some fantastic goals.
“Tony bagged four, Callum (McGregor) scored again and we had a few more chances. It was great, really pleasing to go in five up at half time because we expected a really tough test, to be fair we got that in the second half from Motherwell.”
Watt’s four goals were the highlight of the day lifting the former Airdrie striker onto 14 SPL goals for the season, the same number as St Johnstone’s Ricky McIntosh.
Not many players like playing as a lone striker but the Coatbridge bhoy revels in the role and added a dynamic cutting edge to his game yesterday.
“I’ve said to Tony all season about getting in the six yard box,” Kennedy explained. “He’s the type that loves to run the channels, he’s terrific at it and gives defenders a hard time with his pace.
“When someone else is in that area he has to get into the penalty box, he did that today and scored some great goals. First half he was terrific and in the second half he put in a good shift for the team.
“We felt that we could hurt Motherwell by getting more crosses into the box, with the pitch cutting up in the middle we felt that we could get a bit of joy by getting the ball wide and crossed in behind them.
“There’s a bit of pace with Gormley, George and Watt up front. That was something that we looked at and the boys carried it out very well.
“Today showed the ability that Tony has. He’s shown it in periods this season, it’s fantastic to score four.
“Overall the team as a whole was exceptional, there was a lot of drive from McGregor, Irvine and Herron in the first half. Gormley worked his socks off wide left and Paul George had a terrific first half.
“We asked the defenders just to defend today and they dealt well with the physical battle, McGachey and Erwin are a real handful up front, our defenders competed well and made it difficult for them.”
Celtic are a point behind Hearts with a game in hand although Saturday’s match with Rangers has been postponed due to u-17 international commitments for the Ibrox side.
CELTIC: Fasan; Fisher, Fraser, Jones, Chalmers; George (Miller 88), McGregor, Herron (Kidd 43) Irvine, Gormley: Watt (Atajic 88)
SUBS Willie Muir,Stuart Findlay, James AlabbI
SCORERS Watt 4, McGregor
CLICK HERE for Motherwell 2-5 Celtic match report
CLICK HERE for Lennon accuses James Traynor
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>Results and scorers 2011/12
Hibs 4-3 Watt 3, F Twardzik
Marseilles NGS 0-1
Dunfermline 2-0 Atajic Gormley
Aberdeen 1-1 George
Barcelona NGS1-3 Watt
Dundee Utd 5-0 Williamson F Twardzik, og, Watt, Gormley
Motherwell 1-1 F Twardzik
Hearts 2-0 Herron, Williamson
St Johnstone 3-1Herron McGeough McGregor
Man City NGS 4-2 Herron, George 2, Watt
Kilmarnock 5-1 P Twardzik 3, F Twardzik, Watt
Aberdeen 4-2 George Bogle 2, Watt
Man City NGS 2-1 McGeough, Fraser
Kilmarnock YC 5-0 Irvine 2 George, McGregor, Herron
St Johnstone 2-1 Bogle 2
Barcelona NGS 1-5 Watt
Hearts 1-2 George
Marseilles NGS 3-0 F Twardzik, Toshney George
Dunfermline YC 5-0 Irvine, Atajic, Chalmers, Twardzik, Watt
St Mirren 2-1 Watt, Herron
Inverness CT 6-1 Jones 3, Atajic, Watt, Fisher
Aberdeen 4-1 YC, F Twardzik 2, Watt, Herron
Dundee Utd 1-0 Watt
St Mirren 1-0 F Twardzik
Inverness CT 5-0 Gormley 2, McGregor 2, Fraser
Kilmarnock 4-1 F Twardzik, P Twardzik, Gormley, McGregor
Motherwell 5-2 Watt 4, McGregor.
SCORING LIST: Watt 18, F Twardzik 9, Gormley 6, George 6, Herron 6, McGregor 6, P Twardzik 5, Bogle 4, Atajic 3, Irvine 3, Jones 3, Williamson 2, McGeough 2, Fraser 2, Toshney 1, Chalmers 1, Fisher 1, OG 1
John Kennedy is right, I could hear the players moaning about losing a couple of goals despite being well ahead…a great attitude.
Mothwerwell were unbeaten since October and on a very good run defensively with only 1 goal lost in the previous 5/6 games.
Park was very rough in the centre and good to see the youngsters adapt to the conditions. Also glad the players didn’t get suckered into the after match nonsense from a couple of Motherwell lads. Game is finished, shake hands and go off, good discipline which is very important.