STEEL MEN V BHOYS

Well turn on the style to sweep aside hapless champs

- FRASER WILSON AT FIR PARK

TAKE note, Celtic... this is how you do it Well.

Attractive, possession football but with balance and control. Motherwell produced a masterclass as Jens Berthel Askou schooled Wilfried Nancy to record a first win over the Hoops in 35 games and plunge Celtic, their manager, and his system deeper into the mire.

Goals from Ibrahim Said and Elliot Watt in each half did the damage and ensures any progress the visitors made in their previous two games came crashing to a halt ahead of Saturday's Old Firm at Parkhead.

This had been billed as 'El Passico' due to the teams' possession-based styles. But the only thing the Hoops managed was to pass up the chance to go level top with leaders Hearts.

Two more goals gifted away and a lack of anything truly constructive at the top end of the park saw Nancy's side take a massive step backwards.

Well, though? They are now five points off the champions after a wonderful performance.

Celtic had already had an escape after losing possession to allow Lukas Fadinger to get in behind when even more slack play allowed Well to streak ahead after 14 minutes in the simplest of fashions.

Stephen O'Donnell took the ball from a throw-in 40 yards from goal and one cross into the box found Said in between Auston Trusty and Anthony Ralston to head past Kasper Schmeichel from eight yards.

It was schoolboy stuff. Celtic were all over the shop and Elijah Just bent just wide before Johnny Koutroumbis tested Schmeichel.

By halftime all the attacking stats were in Well's favour.