Motherwell 0 Celtic 5: Ambrose head over heels as Hoops hit goal blizzard in snowy conditions

By John Greechan

PUBLISHED: 18:39 EST, 6 December 2013 | UPDATED: 20:13 EST, 6 December 2013

Celtic extended their unbeaten league run in style — and at a fitting venue — with a Friday-night goal blizzard in snowy conditions at Fir Park.

The reigning champions had not lost a top-flight encounter since their April 28 defeat to Motherwell here and, almost eight months on, they buried the memory of that result with five unanswered goals.

On a night when Kris Commons was the star man with two goals, one a beautiful reaction back-heel and the other a poacher’s finish, Efe Ambrose stole many of the headlines for reasons both professional and personal.

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Child's play: Efe Ambrose (left) celebrated the birth of his daughter with a headed goal

Head over heels: Celtic's Efe Ambrose (right) celebrates his goal in trademark fashion

The Nigerian marked the birth of a baby daughter — delivered on the morning of the match — with a fine header and truly spectacular back-flip celebration.

Ambrose joined up with his team-mates only late yesterday, yet showed no signs of physical or emotional fatigue as he soared above the Motherwell defence to power home a header sandwiched in between Commons’ double.

Anthony Stokes also ended his scoring drought as Motherwell crumbled to a heavy loss, while substitute Bahrudin Atajic rounded off the scoring for a Celtic team who have now racked up 12 goals — for none conceded — in their last two outings.

If ever there were two teams in contrasting moods, it was this pair, Celtic coming into this match off the back of a Scottish Cup thrashing of Hearts described by Neil Lennon as the best in his time at manager, while the hosts were still reeling from an all-time low for Stuart McCall — a Cup defeat to lowly Albion Rovers.

Yet the Steelmen had won their last two home games against the Hoops, even if those results did come last season.

McCall made five changes to the team humiliated last weekend, while Lennon restricted himself to just the one alteration — throwing in striker Teemu Pukki for holding midfielder Nir Biton. So they were going to be even more attacking than they had been at Tynecastle? Quite a thought.

Floodgates opened: Celtic have now scored 12 goals in their last two games

At the double: Celtic striker Kris Commons (right) scored two on the night

Unfortunately, some of the away fans here for this Friday-night fixture decided that the prospect of fireworks from their team just wouldn’t be enough. Oh no, not when these attention seekers could make that occasionally quiet spell just before kick-off all about them, them, them.

Flares, bangers and green smoke bombs were let off —and one thrown on to the pitch — demonstrating that the message of public safety and basic respect for fellow fans, not all of whom enjoy the ‘spectacle’, simply isn’t getting through to the hard of understanding.

Once the smoke cleared, some of the offenders at least partly redeemed themselves with a couple of fitting banners paying tribute to the late Nelson Mandela; the minute’s applause from both sets of supporters was truly uplifting.

Celtic looked as if they were more than ready to pick up where they’d left off on their Sunday afternoon stroll, zipping the ball about with purpose and poise — and getting a shot in within the opening minute.

Efe Ambrose delighted with 5-0 win at Motherwell

Sharp shooter: Celtic's Kris Commons (left) scores again during the 5-0 rout of Motherwell

Barely 20 seconds had expired when Mikael Lustig — pushed up as a wing-back as Celtic moved to three at the back — forced a save out of Gunnar Nielsen, with home defences having been breached thanks in part to the menacing presence of Pukki.

If Lustig was a threat down the right flank, Emilio Izaguirre looked no less potent on the left, sending in a teasing cross for Stokes with three minutes gone, the Irish striker just unable to get much on his header, which fizzed across the six-yard box.

Stokes nearly made instant amends with a 20-yard free-kick spilled by Nielsen, who was well on his way to becoming the busiest man inside Fir Park, constantly on alert for the crosses, neat one-twos and killer balls creating openings for the visitors.

Motherwell’s hopes were hardly helped when wide man Fraser Kerr limped off before the 10-minute mark, his place taken by Adam Cummins. It was already shaping up like a long night for the local heroes.

Celitc boss Neil Lennon delighted with his side after 5-0 win

Celtic’s pace of passing, as well as the choices made and the options available to the man in possession, made them fiendishly difficult to close down. They had a decent shout for a penalty when a Scott Brown cross hit the outstretched arm of Stevie Hammell inside the box with 20 minutes gone, while Lustig again proved his threat with a header just over from another tempting Izaguirre cross.

As the minutes ticked on without a breakthrough, though, might Lennon have worried the European malaise up front was making a rare domestic appearance? Motherwell were not going to make this easy.

A horribly tame attempt at a finish from Pukki, who had not scored in his previous dozen outings, did little to quell niggling concerns in the Celtic camp.

With two minutes to go until half-time, though, the breakthrough arrived when Pukki drilled in a low cross from the right. Stokes met it with a thumping shot at the back post — and Commons reacted to flick the ball in from point-blank range. Cue celebrations among the away fans ... including another smoke bomb.

Duck broken: Celtic youngster Bahrudin Atajic lifts the ball over Gunnar Neilson to score his first goal for the club

Celtic’s pace of passing, as well as the choices made and the options available to the man in possession, made them fiendishly difficult to close down. They had a decent shout for a penalty when a Scott Brown cross hit the outstretched arm of Stevie Hammell inside the box with 20 minutes gone, while Lustig again proved his threat with a header just over from another tempting Izaguirre cross.

As the minutes ticked on without a breakthrough, though, might Lennon have worried the European malaise up front was making a rare domestic appearance? Motherwell were not going to make this easy.

A horribly tame attempt at a finish from Pukki, who had not scored in his previous dozen outings, did little to quell niggling concerns in the Celtic camp.

With two minutes to go until half-time, though, the breakthrough arrived when Pukki drilled in a low cross from the right. Stokes met it with a thumping shot at the back post — and Commons reacted to flick the ball in from point-blank range. Cue celebrations among the away fans ... including another smoke bomb.

Celtic had reverted to a more usual back four during the first half, and they stared the second half looking like maintaining the patient passing rhythm set during the opening 45 minutes.

Caution! Teemu Pukki (left) - the only change made by Neil Lennon - picks up a booking

It took just 40 seconds for them to create the first opening of the half, Joe Ledley arching his body to send a header just off target from one more Izaguirre cross.

The range of passing from the likes of Commons and Charlie Mulgrew kept the visitors on the front foot — and one of the latter’s raking balls set up a corner with 54 minutes gone.

Mulgrew strode over to take the set-piece, sent a curving delivery to the back post ... and celebrated as Ambrose rose above Shaun Hutchinson to score with a powerful header.

The Nigerian’s celebration was a sight to behold, as Ambrose executed a back flip that would earn him in the high nine-point-somethings in the gymnastics at next summer’s Commonwealth Games. Ah well, if a man can’t mark the arrival of a bairn in some style, he’s just not trying hard enough.

Brown had a chance to make it three but shot straight at the keeper, while Pukki’s struggles in front of goal continued with a horrendous miss, spooning the ball over from all of six yards; he does not strike a convincing figure as the out-and-out finisher needed to replace Gary Hooper.

Still, he was desperately unlucky to be booked for diving when replays showed that Cummins had caught him inside the box. Celtic could easily have been awarded two penalties on a night growing ever colder — and snowy.

A right flare up! Fumes from a smoke engulfs Celtic keeper Fraser Forster's goal

Disgraceful: Fans left a trail of destruction with damaged seats in the South Stand

Motherwell's Stuart McCall on his side's 5-0 home defeat

Commons added a third with 15 minutes remaining, finishing after Nielsen had parried Izaguirre’s bending shot. Stokes banged in a fourth moments later, ending a run of eight games without a goal —scoring his first since a home win over Motherwell two months ago.

And the Irishman turned provider for Bosnian sub Atajic with a minute of normal time remaining, playing a beautiful dinked pass that allowed the 20-year-old to score with a cheeky lob.

Barcelona in midweek will be warmer and, obviously, tougher for a Celtic team who have failed to make an impact on the Champions League this season.

As events on a bitterly cold night in Lanarkshire demonstrated, though, they could probably put the champagne on ice for a title party already.

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