Motherwell 1-1 Celtic

By Thomas McGuigan

Derek Riordan scored his first goal for Celtic

Motherwell fired a late equaliser to secure a deserved point against a below-par Celtic.

Celtic had keeper Artur Boruc to thank for keeping them in the game with a number of outstanding saves.

The visitors took the lead after 35 minutes when Shunsuke Nakamura's 20-yard drive was parried by Graeme Smith and swept home by Derek Riordan.

Boruc denied David Clarkson and Richie Foran with a double save, before Darren Smith scrambled home a late equaliser.

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Riordan made his first league start for Celtic since his summer move from Hibernian.

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Teenage defender Darren O'Dea stepped in for Bobo Balde, who broke his leg in 2-2 Boxing Day draw with Dundee United, and Kenny Miller was handed a recall.

Neil Lennon came back from suspension as Evander Sno and the injured Jiri Jarosik dropped out and Aiden McGeady dropped to the bench.

Motherwell - looking for their third successive win - made three changes as Jim Paterson and David Clarkson returned from suspension and Steven McGarry earned a recall.

Loan striker Calum Elliot began on the bench in his last match before returning to Hearts.

The home side could have taken the lead within two minutes after Celtic failed to clear a free-kick into the box and David Clarkson's fierce effort sailed just over the bar.

Riordan spurned Celtic's first chance of the game when he collected Maciej Zurawski's short pass, but his curling effort from the edge of the box failed to trouble Well goalkeeper Graeme Smith.

Miller had a great chance to end his goal drought in the 10th minute, but he screwed his shot wide under pressure from Marc Reynolds.

Riordan failed to convert a delicate chipped pass from Shunsuke Nakamura after 15 minutes, following some neat play by Neil Lennon.

Well substitute Darren Smith scrambled home the equaliser

Scott McDonald raced down the left-hand side after Zurawski lost possession, skipped past Stephen McManus and his low cross found Clarkson, who seemed to connect with Lee Naylor rather than the ball.

Celtic took the lead just after the half-hour mark when Smith parried Nakamura's drive from 25 yards, only for Riordan to sweep the ball home from close range.

Motherwell were thwarted a couple of minutes later when Boruc produced a double save to deny Clarkson and then Richie Foran's crashing volley.

In the second half Motherwell pressed for an equaliser, but were guilty of profligacy in the final third on more than one occasion.

McDonald should have scored just after half-time but shot straight at Boruc.

The ineffective Zurawski was then replaced by Craig Beattie and the misfiring Kenny Miller by Aiden McGeady as the visitors looked to shake off their lethargy.

Motherwell put Celtic under sustained pressure for long periods of the second half.

Thomas Gravesen could have extended the visitors' lead late-on, but his rasping drive from the edge of the box cannoned back off the post.

Motherwell fashioned a late equaliser when McDonald took advantage of poor Celtic defending and his cross was forced over the line by Smith.

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Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Corrigan, Craigan, Reynolds, Paterson, McGarry (Darren Lee Smith 77), Kerr, Fitzpatrick, Foran, Clarkson (Elliot 74), McDonald. Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Kinniburgh, Quinn, Connolly, Coakley.

Goals: Darren Lee Smith 90.

Celtic: Boruc, Telfer, McManus, O'Dea, Naylor, Nakamura, Lennon, Gravesen, Riordan (Pearson 80), Zurawski (Beattie 58), Miller (McGeady 68). Subs Not Used: Marshall, O'Brien, Conroy, Riley.

Booked: Pearson.

Goals: Riordan 37.

Att: 9,769

Ref: C Richmond