Celtic manager Gordon Strachan was in a jubilant mood after watching his team defeat Motherwell 2-0 to remain at the top of the Scottish Premier League table. Following the mentally draining match with Manchester United in midweek and the worrying amount of injuries his squad has, Strachan hailed a ‘terrific performance’ from his side.

After an opening half where a number of chances were wasted, Paul Hartley put the home side in front just before the interval with a well placed volley into the bottom corner of the net.

Into the second half, the game was virtually over when Motherwell were reduced to ten men. David Clarkson was sent-off for violent conduct and Scott McDonald went on to seal the win for Celtic with a low drive afrter 71 minutes. If anything, the Bhoys should have added to their lead – but a win is a win.

As previously mentioned, Strachan was delighted with his players. He said that his players and the crowd were ‘mentally tired’ from the Manchester United game and that once this was put aside, his team started to play some very ‘decent football’.

Due to the fast developing injury crisis at Celtic Park, at some points during the Motherwell game Strachan was without McGeady, Samaras, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Maloney and Nakamura. These are obviously very important players for Celtic and perhaps makes the 2-0 victory all the more commendable.

Something the injuries do though is allow other players to step up and perform for their side. In the Motherwell game, Strachan believed that the main man to make the most of this was man-of-them-match Hartley. The Celtic boss said that the striker was the ‘best player on the pitch’ and that the longer the game went on ‘the better he became.’

Next up for Strachan’s team is a trip to bottom of the table Hamilton on Sunday. Of course, the football odds will be heavily favouring a victory for the Hoops. However, anything can happen in this game and the players mustn’t underestimate their opponents and must ensure that a professional performance, much like the one against Motherwell, is produced.

By Thomas Rooney – A sports writer who blogs about football betting