Thread: Fortuné makes his Marc

Fortuné celebrates as he scores the winner

Marc Antoine Fortuné came off the bench to score an impressive winner as Celtic continued their recent good form with a 3-2 win over Motherwell at Fir Park.

The Bhoys started well in what would prove to be a tough game. Georgios Samaras looked to build on his recent form with another goal but the striker's early effort was saved by 'Well 'keeper John Ruddy as it rebounded off the bar.

Landry N'Guemo then passed to Samaras at the edge of the box and the Greek duly delivered as his shot flew into the back of the net to put Celtic one up.

Ruddy was tested again, this time by Aiden McGeady. However the winger saw both his efforts saved as Celtic looked for another goal.

Celtic's early dominance came to an end as Motherwell went in search for the equaliser. They had a chance through on-loan striker, Lukas Jutkiewicz but Andy Hinkel slid in before the striker had the chance to shoot.

Only a few minutes after Hinkel's challenge, Jutkiewicz was in again and this time there was no Celtic intervention as he equalised at the near post after a cross. Questions need to be asked about the positioning of Celtic's 'Holy Goalie' Artur Boruc for the goal and the failure to defend the cross by Danny Fox.

On the stroke of half-time, Motherwell stunned Celtic to fire themselves into the lead. Tom Hately's free-kick found Mark Reynolds after some poor defending from Celtic and the centre-half found the net from close range.

The Bhoys came out for the second half in a determined mood and this determination paid off just six minutes after the restart as McGeady curled the ball past Ruddy with his left foot.

Celtic were then denied a penalty by Charlie Richmond. The shout came after an apparent Steve Jennings handball inside the area but the claims were waved away.

However the referee did eventually point to the spot in the 65th minute as Steve Saunders fouled Samaras inside the box. Barry Robson stepped up to take the penalty but his effort was saved by Ruddy to keep the match level.

Samaras then missed the chance to put Celtic into the lead. Robson done well to play the striker in but the Greek's shot was a poor one with little power that allowed Ruddy to make a comfortable save.

With twelve minutes left on the clock, Tony Mowbray made the decision to bring Fox off and replace him with Fortuné. The striker had only scored twice previously so it came as a shock to the travelling support when he fired a stunning goal past Ruddy from the edge of the area after a pass from Scott McDonald.

Celtic then tried to kill the game off as a number of chances came to them but McDonald, Samaras and Fortuné all missed them.

This result sees Celtic stay at the top of the SPL and after four successive wins, the Bhoys are growing in confidence ahead of their visit to Vienna to play Rapid in their final European game. They then travel to Tynecastle to play Hearts.

Hail Hail !!