Celtic secured a vital late win over Motherwell on Sunday afternoon. Blair Spittal’s goal was cancelled out early in the second-half by Adam Idah who then put the Hoops in front in stoppage time.
Luis Palma sealed the victory moments later, tapping in at the back post from a fizzing Yang cross.
It was a critical victory for the Hoops that kept them within two points of city rivals Rangers at the top of the table. Celtic are more than in the title race, Sunday’s win only serving to prove their champions mentality.
As important as the win was, certain junctures in the game were equally as crucial. Cameron Carter-Vickers returned from injury on the hour mark as fringe winger Yang came to the fore.
January signing Idah proved crucial once again with Tomoki Iwata controlling the play from the base of the Hoops’ midfield. The team still has Reo Hatate to come back into it and this, combined with the aforementioned factors, has given pundit Michael Stewart increased faith that the champions could retain their title.
Although they currently lie second, Stewart can’t get away from the feeling that things are gradually beginning to come together for Celtic: “Carter-Vickers is back, that is huge”, he said (BBC Sportscene via RecordSport).
“McGregor was better today. When you look at the likes of Yang in the wide area. Not to say he was the answer, but he was giving a bit of penetration there and Idah of course a massive positive.
“All of a sudden you start to see the semblance of recovery and if Hatate gets back into that team quick enough as well you can potentially see a route for Celtic to get back in.
“Having seen that today with a bit of fight and desire and some players coming back, I wouldn’t write Celtic off.”
