Digressive Celts

Matches › 2020/21

Celtic 3–0 Motherwell

Sunday 30 August 2020, 15:00 · Celtic Park · Round 6 · Half-time 1–0

Celtic Forrest 40', Ajeti 74', Jullien 90'

Post-match

Result and Expected Points

CelticMotherwell
Goals30
xG2.060.22
Expected Points2.670.20

Celtic 85%Draw 13%Motherwell 2%

Most likely score 2–0, 25%. Final score 3–0, 17%.

Motherwell goalsCeltic goals0123456+0123456+7%2%5%6%17%4%7%2%2%20%25%Final score

Own goals have no xG.

xG race

01230153045607590HTKlimala on for Elyounoussi, 46'Frimpong on for Taylor, 62'Ajeti on for Ntcham, 71'Lang on for Watt, 59'White on for Lamie, 69'Hylton on for Long, 88'Forrest 40'Ajeti 74'Jullien 90'Celtic 2.06Motherwell 0.2201230153045607590HTKlimala on for Elyounoussi, 46'Frimpong on for Taylor, 62'Ajeti on for Ntcham, 71'Lang on for Watt, 59'White on for Lamie, 69'Hylton on for Long, 88'Forrest 40'Ajeti 74'Jullien 90'2.060.22CelticMotherwell

Each side's xG added up shot by shot through the match. Stoppage time is shaded as far as the last shot or event recorded in it. Triangles along the foot mark each side's substitutions.

Match stats

CelticMotherwell

2.06 −0.69xG0.22 −0.82
3.08 −0.02xG on target0.13 −0.62
17 −5Shots5 −10
6 −2.7Shots on target1 −1.8
4 +0.3Big chances0 −0.8
67% −5Possession33% −25
648 +54Passes324 −90
90% +4Pass accuracy78% +4
85% +2Field tilt15% −40
86 +9Final-third entries32 −10
32 +14Box entries10 −2
11.5 +2.3Passes per defensive action23.6 +12.1
7 −0.7Corners3 −5.4
18 +8Tackles20 +7
10 +3.7Interceptions11 +2.4
13 −1Clearances29 +8
1 +0.3Saves3 +0.8
11 0Fouls10 −4
1 +0.3Offsides3 +0.8

The small figure beside each value is its difference from the side's average per league match this season before this one. Field tilt is each side's share of the open-play passes completed in the final third; entries are completed open-play passes and carries into the final third and the box; passes per defensive action (PPDA) counts the opponent's passes in its own 60% of the pitch for each tackle, interception, challenge, or foul there.

Chance locations

Celtic

Ajeti 73', 0.42 xGKlimala 76', 0.29 xGChristie 13', 0.06 xGChristie 28', 0.06 xGJullien 88', 0.06 xGForrest 56', 0.05 xGForrest 78', 0.04 xGForrest 81', 0.04 xGElyounoussi 2', 0.03 xGNtcham 6', 0.03 xGMcGregor 52', 0.03 xGBrown 65', 0.03 xGChristie 79', 0.03 xGForrest 81', 0.03 xGJullien 90+2', 0.40 xG, goalAjeti 74', 0.36 xG, goalForrest 40', 0.09 xG, goal20%0.42 xGSix-yard box: 1 shot, 0.42 xG, 0 goals38%0.78 xGCentral box: 4 shots, 0.78 xG, 1 goal28%0.58 xGWide in the box: 4 shots, 0.58 xG, 2 goals11%0.23 xGEdge of the box: 7 shots, 0.23 xG, 0 goals3%0.06 xGFurther out: 1 shot, 0.06 xG, 0 goals

Motherwell

Mugabi 45+2', 0.08 xGGrimshaw 9', 0.05 xGGrimshaw 85', 0.04 xGGrimshaw 39', 0.02 xGPolworth 72', 0.02 xG0%0.00 xGSix-yard box: 0 shots, 0.00 xG, 0 goals36%0.08 xGCentral box: 1 shot, 0.08 xG, 0 goals23%0.05 xGWide in the box: 1 shot, 0.05 xG, 0 goals18%0.04 xGEdge of the box: 1 shot, 0.04 xG, 0 goals23%0.05 xGFurther out: 2 shots, 0.05 xG, 0 goals

Each area's share of the side's xG from open play and set pieces, with the xG in it. The two wide areas of the box count together, as on the club pages. Shots shows each of those shots instead, sized by its xG, with goals filled in.

Chance types

CelticMotherwell

1.51 14 shots, 1 goalOpen play0.14 4 shots, 0 goals
0.49 2 shots, 2 goalsCounter-attacks0.00 0 shots, 0 goals
0.06 1 shot, 0 goalsSet pieces0.08 1 shot, 0 goals

xG by type of chance, with each side's shots and goals beside it.

Game state

Level
40 min (43%) · Celtic 0.28, Motherwell 0.07 xG
Celtic ahead
54 min (57%) · Celtic 1.78, Motherwell 0.15 xG

Line-ups

144235384249212717BarkasElhamedJullienAjerTaylorBrownMcGregorForrestNtchamElyounoussiChristieGoalYellow cardGoal62'71'46'Celtic 4-2-3-1Neil Lennon13331164267199932CarsonO'DonnellGallagherMugabiLamieGrimshawCampbellO'HaraPolworthLongWattYellow cardYellow card69'88'59'Motherwell 5-3-2Steve Robinson

Celtic substitutes

  • 46' Klimala for Elyounoussi
  • 62' Frimpong for Taylor · 1 assist
  • 71' Ajeti for Ntcham · goal 74'

Motherwell substitutes

  • 59' Lang for Watt
  • 69' White for Lamie
  • 88' Hylton for Long

Players

Celtic

PlayerPosMinGAxGxAKPxTProgDef
BarkasGK900.000.0000.0211
ElhamedRB900.000.3220.56173
JullienCB9010.460.0100.0917
AjerCB9010.000.1110.14109
TaylorLB620.000.4900.3082
Brown DM900.030.0710.0445
McGregorDM9010.030.1040.07106
ForrestRW9010.250.2510.38135
NtchamAM710.030.0700.0260
ElyounoussiLW460.030.0300.0371
ChristieST900.150.1220.0353
KlimalaFW440.290.0100.0321
FrimpongDF2810.000.6520.43140
AjetiFW1910.780.011−0.0400

Motherwell

PlayerPosMinGAxGxAKPxTProgDef
CarsonGK900.000.0000.0241
O'DonnellRWB900.000.0800.2151
GallagherCB900.000.0100.0438
MugabiCB900.080.0000.11015
Lamie CB690.000.0000.0539
Grimshaw LWB900.110.0100.07109
CampbellCM900.000.010−0.0217
O'HaraCM900.000.0310.0355
PolworthCM900.020.0710.0544
LongST880.000.0310.0321
WattST590.000.010−0.0112
LangFW310.000.0110.0210
WhiteFW210.000.0000.0000
HyltonFW20.000.0000.0001

Starters, then substitutes in the order they came on. KP is chances created and Def defensive actions (tackles, blocks, clearances, and interceptions). xT is the expected threat added by the player's completed open-play passes and carries, and Prog counts progressive passes and carries.

Pass networks

Celtic

Barkas and Jullien: 5 passesBarkas and Ajer: 5 passesBrown and Elyounoussi: 5 passesForrest and Christie: 5 passesMcGregor and Forrest: 6 passesMcGregor and Ntcham: 6 passesTaylor and Ntcham: 7 passesAjer and Brown: 8 passesTaylor and Christie: 8 passesJullien and Brown: 9 passesAjer and Taylor: 9 passesAjer and Elyounoussi: 9 passesBrown and Forrest: 10 passesForrest and Ntcham: 10 passesJullien and McGregor: 11 passesElhamed and Ntcham: 12 passesJullien and Ajer: 12 passesElhamed and Forrest: 13 passesTaylor and Elyounoussi: 13 passesElhamed and Jullien: 15 passesAjer and McGregor: 15 passesMcGregor and Elyounoussi: 16 passesElhamed and Brown: 17 passesBrown and McGregor: 18 passesTaylor and McGregor: 24 passesBarkas: 11 completed passesElhamed: 37 completed passesJullien: 35 completed passesAjer: 34 completed passesTaylor: 38 completed passesBrown: 38 completed passesMcGregor: 51 completed passesForrest: 24 completed passesNtcham: 19 completed passesElyounoussi: 24 completed passesChristie: 12 completed passes144235384249212717BarkasElhamedJullienAjerTaylorBrownMcGregorForrestNtchamElyounoussiChristieStarters until 46' · lines join pairs with 5+ passes

Motherwell

Carson and Lamie: 4 passesMugabi and Gallagher: 4 passesMugabi and Polworth: 4 passesGallagher and Campbell: 4 passesLamie and Polworth: 4 passesGrimshaw and Polworth: 4 passesCampbell and Watt: 4 passesCarson and Mugabi: 5 passesO'Donnell and Polworth: 5 passesGrimshaw and Watt: 5 passesPolworth and Watt: 5 passesCarson and Gallagher: 6 passesO'Donnell and Watt: 6 passesGallagher and O'Hara: 6 passesGallagher and Polworth: 6 passesO'Donnell and O'Hara: 7 passesMugabi and Lamie: 7 passesO'Hara and Polworth: 7 passesO'Donnell and Campbell: 8 passesPolworth and Long: 8 passesLamie and Grimshaw: 9 passesO'Donnell and Gallagher: 14 passesCarson: 11 completed passesO'Donnell: 24 completed passesMugabi: 15 completed passesGallagher: 23 completed passesLamie: 14 completed passesGrimshaw: 14 completed passesO'Hara: 18 completed passesPolworth: 24 completed passesCampbell: 17 completed passesLong: 8 completed passesWatt: 11 completed passes13316314271969932CarsonO'DonnellMugabiGallagherLamieGrimshawO'HaraPolworthCampbellLongWattStarters until 59' · lines join pairs with 4+ passes

Each starter at the average position of their passes and receptions until the side's first substitution or red card, sized by completed passes. Lines join pairs who passed to each other often, thicker for more passes.

Passing combinations

Celtic

FromToPasses
JullienElhamed19
AjerMcGregor18
BrownElhamed17
BrownMcGregor16
McGregorTaylor16

Motherwell

FromToPasses
GallagherO'Donnell11
O'DonnellGallagher10
PolworthO'Hara7
CarsonGrimshaw7
CampbellO'Donnell6

The five pairs with the most completed passes from one to the other over the whole match.

Defensive actions

Celtic

0−4.06+1.35−2.03−0.37+2.33−2.74−1.71−4.07−2.04+1.07+1.32−0.37+2.07−0.34+0.74+1.31−2.04+0.74−0.72+0.32+1.01−0.31−0.76+2.300.01+0.70−1.30−0.72+1.33−5.0FewerMore than the season average

Against its average of 3 matches

Motherwell

3−0.89+4.222+10.210+1.67−0.22−6.411+3.610+4.27+0.48+0.85−0.860.02−0.82−4.42−3.040.03+0.20−2.21−1.44−0.21−0.80−1.20−0.63+1.410.01−0.21+0.60−1.60−0.80−0.6FewerMore than the season average

Against its average of 5 matches

Where each side made its tackles, interceptions, clearances, blocks, recoveries, challenges, and fouls, attacking up the page. Areas are shaded by the difference from the side's average per match this season before this one: amber for more, blue for fewer.

Threat

Celtic

0.010.010.020.010.020.030.020.050.040.060.030.010.190.160.030.070.100.010.020.030.20−0.060.19−0.030.310.260.31LessMore

Motherwell

0.020.010.010.010.020.030.010.020.010.040.020.030.010.020.02−0.01−0.010.010.010.10−0.010.050.18LessMore

Expected threat added by completed open-play passes and carries, by where the move started, attacking up the page. Expected threat is the chance that possession in an area leads to a goal; a move adds the difference between where it ends and where it starts.

Ratings

0.00.51.01.52.0League average 0.93AttackCeltic1.53 → 1.53Motherwell0.74 → 0.73Defence (lower is better)Celtic0.29 → 0.27Motherwell1.01 → 1.02

The goals each side would score (attack) and concede (defence) per game against an average team, from the forecast ratings before this matchday (ring) and after it (dot); a lower defence number is better. Grey dots are the other clubs after the matchday, spread up and down only so they don't overlap. The change takes in the whole matchday.

League probabilities

ChanceBeforeWith this resultChange
Celtic
Title57%59%+2
Motherwell
Top six19%17%−2
11th15%16%+1
Bottom11%12%+1
Rangers
Title42%40%−2
Ross County
Top six32%32%0
11th9%9%0
Bottom5%5%0

From the forecast before the match (30 August 2020): each chance then, and across the simulations in which the match ended this way. The change is in percentage points.

Pre-match

As things stood before kick-off.

Forecast

CelticMotherwell
Expected goals2.020.22
Win81%3%
Expected Points2.580.25
Clean sheet80%13%

Celtic 81%Draw 16%Motherwell 3%

Most likely score 2–0, 22%. Both sides score 17%.

Motherwell goalsCeltic goals0123456+0123456+11%2%5%5%15%3%7%2%3%1%21%22%

From the forecast as it stood on 30 August 2020: each side's attack and defence ratings in a Dixon–Coles score model, as on the Forecasts page.

League probabilities by result

ChanceNowCeltic winDrawMotherwell win
Celtic
Title57%59%48%43%
Motherwell
Top six19%17%27%35%
11th15%16%13%8%
Bottom11%12%6%5%
Rangers
Title42%40%50%55%
Ross County
Top six32%32%33%30%
11th9%9%10%8%
Bottom5%5%4%8%

Each chance before the match and across the simulations ending in each result. Other teams are listed where a chance moves by at least 3 percentage points.

Form

Celtic

  1. W1–022 AugDundee United (A)xG 3.00–0.29
  2. D1–19 AugKilmarnock (A)xG 0.74–1.06
  3. W5–12 AugHamilton Academical (H)xG 4.51–0.47

Motherwell

  1. L0–122 AugHamilton Academical (H)xG 0.73–2.22
  2. D0–015 AugHibernian (A)xG 0.89–1.45
  3. D2–212 AugLivingston (H)xG 0.50–2.03
  4. L0–18 AugDundee United (H)xG 1.13–0.89
  5. L0–13 AugRoss County (A)xG 1.96–1.33

The last six league matches, newest first, with xG for and against.

Season to date

CelticMotherwell
Position4th12th
Played35
Won, drawn, lost2–⁠1–⁠00–⁠2–⁠3
Points7 (2.33 per game)2 (0.40 per game)
Expected Points per game2.260.98
Goals7–⁠22–⁠5
xG per game2.75–⁠0.611.04–⁠1.58
Home: points, xG per game3.00, 4.51–⁠0.470.33, 0.79–⁠1.71
Away: points, xG per game2.00, 1.87–⁠0.680.50, 1.43–⁠1.39
ManagerNeil Lennon (3)Steve Robinson (5)

League matches this season before kick-off. The manager's number is league matches in charge since 2020/21.

Ratings

0.00.51.01.52.0League average 0.93AttackCeltic1.53, 1stMotherwell0.74, 10thDefence (lower is better)Celtic0.29, 1stMotherwell1.01, 5th

This season

Attack0.00.51.01.52.02.53.01 Aug29 AugCeltic attack: 1.53Motherwell attack: 0.741.530.74MotherwellCelticDefence (lower is better)0.00.51.01.52.02.53.01 Aug29 AugCeltic defence: 0.29Motherwell defence: 1.011.010.29

The goals each side would score (attack) and concede (defence) per game against an average team, from the forecast ratings before this matchday, with their rank among the league's clubs; a lower defence number is better. Grey dots are the other clubs, spread up and down only so they don't overlap.

Strengths and weaknesses

CelticMotherwell
CreatedConcededCreatedConceded
Open play+72%−37%−21%−24%
Counter-attacks+476%−50%−83%−30%
Set pieces+6%−29%−14%+84%
Penalties−50%+53%+20%+123%
Headers−29%−21%+27%+30%
Left side+38%−37%+10%−16%
Centre+71%−40%−47%+24%
Right side+85%−24%−3%−5%

xG created and conceded per game against the league average this season: +24% is 24% more than an average side. Left and right are each side's own, so chances conceded on its left come from opponents attacking down their right. Green favours the side and amber doesn't. Until a side has played six matches its figures are blended with last season's, or with the league average where there is no last season to use.

Matchups

Celtic attacking

Celtic createdMotherwell concededLeft side+38%−5%Centre+71%+24%Right side+85%−16%Open play+72%−24%Counter-attacks+476%−30%Set pieces+6%+84%Headers−29%+30%

Motherwell attacking

Motherwell createdCeltic concededLeft side+10%−24%Centre−47%−40%Right side−3%−37%Open play−21%−37%Counter-attacks−83%−50%Set pieces−14%−29%Headers+27%−21%

Each side's xG created per game down each side of the pitch, through the centre, and from each type of chance, against what its opponent concedes there, both relative to the league average.

Season averages

CelticMotherwell

2.75xG1.04
0.61xG against1.58
72%Possession58%
21.7Shots15.2
6.7Shots against11.0
8.7Shots on target2.8
3.7Big chances0.8
594Passes414
86%Pass accuracy75%
7.7Corners8.4
84%Field tilt54%
76.7Final-third entries41.8
17.7Box entries12.2
9.2Passes per defensive action11.5

Per league match this season before kick-off.

Game state this season

Celtic

StateMinutes per gamexG per 90xG against per 90
Level602.080.34
Ahead304.081.13
Behind0––

Motherwell

StateMinutes per gamexG per 90xG against per 90
Level610.761.76
Ahead70.803.87
Behind221.920.32

xG by period

Celtic

MinutesxG per gamexG againstGoals
1–150.140.111–0
16–300.350.351–1
31–450.860.051–1
46–600.570.012–0
61–750.370.090–0
76–900.460.012–0

Motherwell

MinutesxG per gamexG againstGoals
1–150.100.401–1
16–300.180.200–1
31–450.100.151–0
46–600.200.110–1
61–750.370.310–1
76–900.100.420–1

Per game this season, with stoppage time counted in its half; goals are totals for and against.

Most used players by position

Celtic

GKRBCBCBLBDMDMRWAMLWSTBarkas 2Bain 1Frimpong 3Jullien 3Ajer 2Bitton 1Taylor 3Brown 2McGregor 3Forrest 1Christie 2Forrest 1Christie 1Elyounoussi 1Ntcham 1Elyounoussi 2Edouard 1Edouard 2Brown 14-2-3-1 in every start

Motherwell

GKRBCBCBLBCMCMCMRWSTLWCarson 5O'Donnell 2Grimshaw 2Gallagher 1Gallagher 4Mugabi 4Lamie 2Lamie 3Grimshaw 1McGinley 1Campbell 4Seedorf 1White 1O'Hara 5Polworth 1Turnbull 2Donnelly 1Seedorf 3Turnbull 1Hastie 1Long 3White 2Turnbull 2Lang 2Hastie 14-3-3 in 2 of 5 starts

Formations: 4-3-3 (2), 4-4-2 (2), 4-2-3-1 (1)

This season's most used formation, with up to three players who started most often in each position and their league starts there. Underneath, when a side has used more than one, every formation with its starts.

Key players

Motherwell

PlayerStartsMinGAxG per 90xA per 90
Lamie5450000.060.07
Gallagher5450000.020.06
Carson5450000.000.00

Up to four players a side with the most xG plus xA per 90 minutes, from those with at least 450 league minutes.