A Fir Challenge For Bhoys
~~~~ Official TC Match Preview ~~~~


Jota joy as the Hoops secured their first league away win of the season


Saturday, 16 October 2021
15.00 BST
Fir Park

This weekend's return to action following the international break, with more than a few questions still hanging over them.

But Ange Postecoglou believes that the team is now much more settled and ready for the challenges that lie ahead, beginning with the relatively short trip to Lanarkshire this weekend.

"It has been, right from the start, probably 'unsettled', is the right word" said the Hoops' boss.


Ange will be keen to build on the away day record after success at Aberdeen

"It has been unsettled but after the Aberdeen game I was hoping we'd get through this international period without any issues and the ones who have been rushed in and thrown into playing can settle themselves, even off the field. Guys were literally coming off a plane and we were putting them in the team." continued Postecoglou.

Between players departing and new signings joining the club, as well as a injury crisis to contend with, leaving limited options to call upon and that is not even touching on matters behind the scenes, 'unsettled' would seem a pretty fair assessment.

Hopefully the break in action will have had a few added benefits, to help with the cohesiveness of the team and preparations for the task ahead, for whihc there certainly seems to be more optimism.

"Not just me, I think the whole squad feels better prepared than we were before."


Ralston has seized his opportunity since Postecoglou's arrival

And it is a sentiment that has been shared by Anthony Ralston, expressing “Now that all the boys are back, we’re all ready to go as a team and focus on tomorrow’s game.”

“To win at Aberdeen was important, but that is in the past now and we’ve got a game tomorrow and that’s an important game, which every game is, and we look to go and head on and get another win,” the fullback added.

Hopefully this optimism will be reflected in the results over the coming weeks, as the Bhoys seek to climb from the middle of the league pack.

One of the biggest challenges is the Bhoys' away day troubles.

Despite the victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie prior to the break - just the first away day win in the league in eight months - this form remains a concern as one result cannot be considered conclusive proof of this trend has been turned around, but rather a step in the right direction.

Then there are questions swirling around both ends of the park. Chiefly, about the lapses at the back and the finishing in front of goal.

Indeed, in the last 2 league outings combined, Celtic racked up more than 30 shots on the opposition goal, so it would seem that the creativity has not really been an issue.

Rather one of wastefulness in front of goal, having managed just the single goal in the draw with Dundee United and both of the goals in the win over Aberdeen came about from the only two shots that were on target in that entire game.

But the return of some key figures, such as Callum McGregor and Kyogo Furuhashi, who marked his return to action with a goal in that 2-1 win over Aberdeen, coupled with continued intergration for the likes of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jota adjusting to life at Celtic - and the pressures that come with it.


Kyogo further underlining his importance to Celtic with a goal on his return

On paper, this is a fixture that Celtic should be confident about going into, having gone undefeated since 2015 including winning the last 8 consecutive meetings between the sides, and not lost at Fir Park since 2013.

However, that is before taking into consideration the form of Motherwell this season, who currently sit a couple of places above of the Hoops on the SPFL table.

Especially at home, where the only loss that Graham Alexander's side have suffered at Fir Park was to Hibs on the opening weekend of the league campaign - just the second in all competitions since February.

So it is fair to say that there has been some real steel added to the Lanarkshire club, and no doubt will pose a tough challenge in front of their own support tomorrow.

Team News



Thankfully, all of the Bhoys that were away on international duty have returned unscathed and available for selection, which is a great relief, in addition to the news that winger Mikey Johnston and striker Giorgos Giakoumakis are also now ready for action.

However Josip Juranovic's hamstring will keep the Croatian fullback sidelined for the time being, along with James Forrest and Christopher Julien, both of whom however, are back in training as they work towards being able resume an active role in the team.

Motherwell will be without midfielder Robbie Crawford with an ankle problem that is likely to keep him out for the next 4-6 weeks, however there could be a return for Norwegian defender Sondre Solholm Johansen, who has been out since picking up a knock on debut against Aberdeen last month.


~~~~ Head to Head ~~~~

Overall
P: 295 W: 178 D: 66 L: 51

Away at Motherwell
P: 150 W: 76 D: 42 L: 32

Last 5 Meetings
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Away at Motherwell
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~~~~ 2021/22 Form ~~~~

Overall
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SPFL
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Celtic Away - - - - - Motherwell Home
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