Celtic displayed commendable battling qualities as they came from behind to beat Motherwell 2-1.
Celtic get back to winning ways in front of a half-empty Parkhead
Celtic displayed commendable battling qualities as they came from behind to beat Motherwell 2-1.
The Hoops were given a scare when Mark Reynolds fired the visitors in front shortly after half-time, but they responded in style as the unlikely source of Josh Thompson bagged a brace.
The Glasgow natives voted with their feet ahead of the midweek contest, with the vast cauldron that is Parkhead less than half full when the players entered the arena.
It appears that few are willing to forgive and forget a turgid campaign which was epitomised over the weekend by a shock Scottish Cup semi-final exit at the hands of First Division Ross County.
Those that did make the journey probably wished they had not bothered throughout much of the first half, with the action providing little entertainment.
The first chance of the night did fall to the Hoops, 10 minutes in, but Robbie Keane was unable to connect with a dangerous delivery from Niall McGinn.
Celtic, obviously still reeling from Saturday's showing at Hampden Park, looked nervous at the back and Steven Jennings should have made them pay when he took advantage of some sloppy defending to drive goalwards.
McGinn then fired over the top at the other end before Lukasz Zaluska spilled a Jamie Murphy shot which bobbled in front of him.
Escaped
Lukas Jutkiewicz was proving to be a thorn in Celtic's side at this stage and he forced Zaluska into action once more shortly after the half-hour mark when he escaped the attentions of Thompson.
Keane hooked a snap-shot across the face of goal as the Hoops looked to assert themselves on proceedings, but the two sides would go in level at the interval.
It did not take long for that situation to change, with Craig Brown's men edging ahead four minutes into the second period.
Celtic failed to deal with a free-kick from Tom Hateley and Reynolds lashed the loose ball into the back of the net from six yards.
Well's celebrations were not to last long, though, as the hosts went straight down the other end and snatched an equaliser.
Scott Brown nodded a corner down into the heart of the box and Thompson displayed a striker's instinct to turn a half-volley into the bottom corner.
The Hoops, buoyed by the goal, went for the jugular but were unable to make the most of the opportunities which came their way.
Aiden McGeady rifled narrowly over on 53 minutes, before a spate of chances materialised on the hour.
Keane was sent in on goal by a fantastic pass from McGeady, but he drilled straight at the feet of Michael Fraser.
Frustration
Moments later Diomansy Kamara thought he had forced a breakthrough when he lashed towards an empty net, but Reynolds somehow got back to block.
The tension was beginning to tell on caretaker coach Neil Lennon and he beat the turf in frustration after seeing another chance for Keane go begging.
Thompson was denied by a wall of Motherwell bodies as he looked for his second of the night on 68 minutes, while Kamara was halted in his tracks by a flag when sent scampering clear.
John Sutton really should have put the visitors back in front 15 minutes from time, but saw Zaluska beat away his back post header after being picked out by Jim O'Brien.
Celtic made him pay for his profligacy in front of goal when they grabbed what proved to be a winner on 78 minutes.
Lee Naylor swung over a corner from the right and Thompson was in the right place at the right time once again to force a header past Fraser.
Keane fired a stinging volley over the bar as the clock ticked down, while only some heroic defending prevented McGeady from getting his name on the scoresheet.
The hard-fought victory leaves Celtic 10 points behind league leaders and Old Firm rivals Rangers and eight ahead of third-placed Dundee United.
