Celtic and Motherwell share spoils in eight goal thriller

A file photo of John Hartson of Celtic, in action during the Champions WorldSeries Game between Manchester United and Celtic July 28, 2004 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. A last gasp Craig Beattie goal salvaged a point for Celtic in a thrilling 4-4 draw at Motherwell, after Hartson had scored a hat-trick, on the opening day of the Scottish Premier League.

A last gasp Craig Beattie goal salvaged a point for Celtic in a thrilling 4-4 draw at Motherwell in the opening day of the Scottish Premier League.

Celtic's John Hartson grabbed a first half hat-trick Saturday but their dreadful defensive performance allowed Terry Butcher's side to claw their way back to lead 4-3 with goals from Brian Kerr, Jim Hamilton, Scott McDonald and William Kinniburgh.

But substitute Beattie's 90th minute goal spared Gordon Strachan's Celtic a nightmare start to the new campaign at Fir Park, where they had thrown away the title on the final day of last season.

The new Celtic boss has now seen his side concede nine goals in two games, after their 5-0 defeat away to Slovakian side Artmedia Bratislava in a Champions League qualifier on Wednesday, and he admits their defending needs to improve.

Strachan said: "The manner we are losing goals is a big concern. To score four goals away from home is great but to lose four goals at the other end is very worrying.

"It seemed to be getting brighter when we were 3-1 up, but it got darker for us again very quickly and it has been one of those weeks.

"It's a body blow but we will keep plodding away."

Despite the late goal snatching another historic win against Celtic away from Motherwell, manager Butcher was happy with his players' performance.

He said: "To lose such a late goal is so disappointing after we had came back from 3-1 down to lead 4-3 and the players in the changing room are gutted.

"But I thought the shape of the team was terrific and the spirit of the players was fantastic.

"The game should have been over at half-time but my players came out in the second-half determined to have a right go and they did themselves proud."

Celtic tookk the lead in the 14th minute when Hartson headed Alan Thompson's cross into the roof of the net.

But Motherwell were in no mood to lie down to the Glasgow giants and in the 20th minute they were level after a neat interchange of passes was superbly finished off by former Newcastle United player Kerr who unleashed a ferocious left-foot drive from 12-yards into the top corner.

In the 32nd minute Celtic regained their lead with Hartson again using his head.

This time it was Aiden McGeady who provided the cross from the left and the big Welsh international showed fantastic footwork to reposition himself and send a glancing header into the bottom left-hand corner of Gordon Marshall's net.

Three minutes before the break Celtic were awarded a penalty when Stan Petrov was hauled down by Well's goalkeeper Marshall.

Hartson stepped up to rifle the ball low into the net to complete his hat-trick and give Celtic a two goal cushion.

However, within 15 minutes of the restart Strachan's side again displayed their weakness at the back.

First Jim Hamilton took advantage of dreadful marking by centre-halves Stanislav Varga and Stephen McManus to rise unchallenged and head home Alan McCormack's cross in the 58th minute.

And two minutes later Motherwell were again level when Jim Paterson crossed from the left for McDonald, whose two goals in the final match last season cost Celtic the title, to score with a fine downward header.

With five minutes remaining Celtic displayed dreadful defending again when Hamilton's cross from the left was met by the unmarked Kinniburgh who headed into the top left-hand corner of the net.

Then Beattie, who had replaced McGeady in the 68th minute, latched on to a high ball through the middle of the Motherwell defence and poked the ball under the advancing Marshall to tie the match at 4-4 in the dying seconds.