Celtic keep incredible unbeaten streak through Scott Sinclair’s late penalty
The Parkhead side had been unbeaten in 65 domestic games but the run nearly came to an end after Mikael Lustig's own goal almost sealed the win for Motherwell
JACK and the Beanstalk has just started at the civic centre along from Fir Park.
But pantomime villain Scott Sinclair took centre stage again to write another controversial spotkick script against Motherwell.
He had been the player who had hit the deck to win the crucial penalty in Sunday’s League Cup win over Well.
And at Fir Park he stepped off the bench to save unbeaten run after Callum McGregor had been bundled in the box.
Until then Mikael Lustig had looked like being remembered as the guy who gifted the goal to end the Hoops’ unbeaten run at 65 games on the day his kids’ Christmas presents were nicked from his motor.
But with just two minutes left – and with Well looking like becoming the first club to shut out Celts for 20 months – Collum pointed to the spot after Andy Rose’s challenge.
It looked a soft award again, with McGregor going away from goal as he tumbled.
Once again it saw a whistler being surrounded by claret and amber at full-time.
You felt for Well too after standing up to Celts for long spells.
When Lustig slipped on 78 minutes then skewed home Craig Tanner’s free-kick the ground went wild.
But three days after Cedric Kipre’s disputed foul and red card there was more disbelief amongst Well fans.
In freezing conditions they had withstood the heat and refused to keel over.
Sinclair started on the bench after his weekend being caught up in controversy.
It didn’t stop his name being booed by home fans and cheered by the visitors when it was read out.
The teams emerged to the stirring soundtrack of the video Well played before the Hampden final.
The home side started brightly too with Carl McHugh seeing a header drop just over.
At the other end Leigh Griffiths – recalled with Moussa Dembele crocked – saw a shot deflect wide after Allan Campbell had gifted possession.
Patrick Roberts was starting his first game after a month out but his night lasted just 11 minutes.
At the end of a mazy he pulled up holding his troublesome hamstring.
After hobbling around for a couple of minutes .
Ref Craig Thomson had been at the epicentre of the showpiece spotkick saga on Sunday.
Last night Collum was the man entrusted with things.
Kipre started with his Hampden red card ban applying to next year’s League Cup.
Hoops No2 had claimed his lunge at Dembele could have ended the striker’s career.
The giant Frenchman showed he wasn’t going to be put off by his early bath and Collum kept his cards in his pocket when he mowed down James Forrest.
It was the same when Deimantas Petravicius left a dull one on Kieran Tierney.
The Hoops were seeing the bulk of the possession but Well were sticking to their shape.
Collum seemed determined to let things flow, which led to some fierce challenges going unpunished and both sides claiming for fouls which weren’t given.
Coins appeared to rain down from a section of Well fans in the John Hunter stand.
But neither side had managed to cash in and take any of their limited chances.
On the odd occasion the Hoops were neat and tidy they failed to make the most of things.
Whenever Well attacked as ever there was no quarter given but the Hoops backline refused to buckle.
Craig Gordon’s stunning save from Louis Moult had kept the Hoops ahead at Hampden.
But he got lucky when he made a hash of Elliott Frear’s free-kick and saw the ball bounce off his arm and out for a corner.
Then, seconds after fourth official Barry Cook held up the board to say there would be one minute of injury time, Celtic came so close to taking the lead.
If it hadn’t been for Well keeper Trevor Carson they would have.
Some more good play through midfield ended with Rogic producing a brilliant pass to send Tierney racing in on goal.
The ball looked destined to end up in the net until the goalie brilliantly spread himself and leave Tierney holding his head in his hands.
It was vital Well didn’t fold early in the second half as they had at Hampden.
If Griffiths had got the ball out from under his feet quicker they might have fallen behind just three minutes in.
Tierney turned on the turbo down the left and picked out his Scotland teammate.
But he couldn’t get a shot away before bodies were around him to block.
Forrest saw his follow-up charged down too.
Collum finally flashed yellow at Campbell after he stopped Armstrong illegally.
Carson again reacted well to push away a Callum McGregor piledriver.
Another piece of lax play from Gordon gifted Well an opening when a wayward kick from the goal-line went straight to Cadden.
As Gordon scrambled backwards Cadden picked out Moult who could only hook over.
McGregor passed up another chance when he drilled wide then Griffiths did the same.
But again Well broke in a move which sub Tanner might have made more off.
Richard Tait picked him out but despite standing unmarked inside the box he couldn’t connect properly with his header.
Sinclair came on for Armstrong with 73 minutes gone to charge both supports up.
But it was Well who reacted best after Brown conceded a free-kick.
Tanner sent it into the mixer, Lustig lost his footing and lunged at the ball only to see it fly past Gordon’s outstretched hand.
But there was more drama to come. Carson had done well again to produce a double save from McGregor.
When the ball dropped McGregor lost his footing, Collum was in no doubt and Sinclair did the rest.