A collector’s item in Glasgow’s east end as Celtic’s relentless march towards the Premiership title was finally slowed, if only a little.
Ange Postecoglou’s side will still hoist the trophy high in May, but they were forced to settle for a draw against a Motherwell side reborn under Stuart Kettlewell. It is the first time in 17 attempts this season any team has left Celtic Park with a league result, and the first time at all since Rangers managed a draw in May last year.
Callum McGregor had given the hosts the lead with a deflected effort from range in the first-half, and the game appeared to be meandering towards another routine Celtic victory until Kevin van Veen took it upon himself to weave a path through the home defence for a sumptuous equaliser.
Here are five talking points from Parkhead.
A rare stutter
Celtic have been near-flawless in the Premiership this season, and they may yet reflect on that aberration in Paisley all the way back in September and feel an invincible campaign could well have been in their grasp. The winning run which has followed it has been astonishing, with only Rangers capable of taking even a point from that at Ibrox at the turn of the year.
Off days happen, though, and it was inevitable somebody would leave Celtic Park with something to show for it at some point. Considering that the Premiership title is still practically a formality, it is difficult to read too much into this result, at least from a Celtic perspective.
Motherwell, on the other hand, deserve the immense credit they will take for being the team to finally knock the champions-elect off their formidable stride. Kettlewell’s team ran themselves into the ground from the first whistle, grafting their way to a point that further underlines their revival under his management.
Having been on an alarming slide not so long ago, they are now 10 points clear of bottom place.
A captain’s example
Celtic were not necessarily poor until the opening goal, but the final ball was not quite finding its mark and the crowd had fallen rather flat. Their attacking game is built upon sharp passing and constant rotations but, when the time is right, there remains plenty to be said for just having a speculative go from distance to try and stir something inside the stadium.
Even an effort that does not find the back of the net can force the keeper into action, get the crowd back into it and have the opposition second guessing just how comfortable they really are in keeping you at bay. Or, in this case, it can take a deflection and spin its way into the back of Liam Kelly’s net.
This was McGregor’s fourth goal of the season, and there are few who strike the ball as crisply as the Celtic captain. That technique is equalled by his willingness to take responsibility. It has always been said that the 29-year-old leads through actions over words, and this was the perfect example.
Van Veen’s moment of class
Coming to this venue, where being prepared to suffer without the ball is a prerequisite, it really does help to have someone at the other end with a bit of magic up their sleeve. Motherwell have that in Van Veen.
The Dutch striker stakes a strong claim as being the most technically proficient footballer out with Celtic and Rangers in Scottish football. His touches are deft and intelligent, and despite not being blessed with blistering pace, he has that rare ability to glide away from defenders without really looking like he’s trying.
He certainly managed to turn Greg Taylor inside out for Motherwell’s equaliser, leaving the left-back in unflattering spin as he attempted to locate just where Van Veen had disappeared to. By he time Taylor realised, the striker was in the process of sitting down Joe Hart with a wonderfully composed finish into the back of the Celtic net, his 24th of a stellar individual season.
Haksa’s audition
This was Sead Haksabanovic’s chance to really stake a claim for Hampden next week. A dazzling display here may have made it difficult for Postecoglou to leave him out at the national stadium, but as the winger trudged off to be replaced Oh Hyeun-Gyu in the second-half, it was clear even he felt he had not shown what he is capable of.
There are lingering fitness doubts around Jota and Liel Abada as derby week approaches, but with Postecoglou revealing both have been training, the odds would suggest that at least one will be available next Sunday.
Haksabanovic has produced some magic moments off the bench, but some of his play suggested a player a little short on confidence, as well as the sharpness that only comes with playing regular football.
On to Hampden for Celtic
With the league effectively done and dusted, it was hard to escape the feeling most inside Celtic Park had their mind’s drifting across the city to the south side, only to be given a jolt by Van Veen's out of the blue equaliser. They did their level best to roar their side on to finding a winner, but it was not to be on this occasion.
Still though, it is a blip that will be quickly forgotten with that what awaits. Beating Rangers in next week’s Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden would be a monumental step towards the treble for Postecoglou and his team.
And so we move on to the customary full week of build-up that Celtic vs Rangers commands. It should be typically serene.
