Half-Time Report: Kris Commons ends Motherwell resistance for Celtic

Kris Commons has scored his fourth goal in a week to give Celtic a 1-0 half-time lead over Motherwell in tonight's Scottish Premiership clash at Fir Park.

The former Nottingham Forest winger netted a hat-trick in their 7-0 Scottish Cup thrashing of Hearts last Sunday, and ended Motherwell's stubborn resistance a minute prior to the break this evening.

However, the hosts strongly appealed that Commons was in an offside position when he cleverly diverted Anthony Stokes's shot past Steelmen goalkeeper Gunnar Nielson with a back heel.

The Bhoys may feel that any luck that they received from refereeing decisions was just considering that they enjoyed 63% of possession, and had all but one of the shots on goal during the opening 45 minutes.

Mikael Lustig had previously come closest to breaking the deadlock when he headed a cross from his fellow full-back Emilio Izaguirre narrowly over the crossbar on 26 minutes.

Swedish international Lustig and recalled striker Teemu Pukki, who has only scored two goals this season, also forced good saves out of Nielson in a strong first-half display from Neil Lennon's SPL leaders.