Celtic kicked off the defence of their SPL title with a 2-0 win over Motherwell.
Celtic kicked off the defence of their SPL title in the best possible fashion with a 2-0 win over Motherwell.Martin O'Neill's Bhoys were not at their best on Sunday, but goals in each half from captain Jackie McNamara and Chris Sutton settled the issue.
McNamara put Celtic in the driving seat just seven minutes in, flashing home a 25-yard drive which gave Gordon Marshall no chance.
Celtic could have doubled their advantage before the break, with Alan Thompson going close, John Hartson blazing over the bar when well placed and Stanislav Varga seeing a header tipped over the bar.
Motherwell were rarely seen as an attacking force in the opening half, with David Marshall a virtual spectator.
Hartson squandered another chance after the break and Celtic were almost made to pay when David Clarkson hooked a shot wide from a corner.
The tension at Parkhead was eased ten minutes after the break when Sutton dived in to head home a cross from Thompson.
Celtic wasted further chances through Sutton and Stilian Petrov, but the result was never really in doubt.
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