Celtic settle for a draw

David Clarkson looked set to overshadow Stephen Pearson’s anticipated first return to his former club with a strongly disputed goal which had more than a hint of offside.

But the youngster emerged from the shadows of missing trio Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton and John Hartson to give the inexperienced champions a draw.

Martin O’Neill made eight changes from the side which completed a whitewash of wins over Rangers at Parkhead on Saturday ahead of the Tennent’s Scottish Cup final.

But the clutch of first-team stars would not have minded missing out on the risk of serious injury on the Fir Park potato patch ahead of the showpiece with Dunfermline.

It was no surprise both sets of players found it hard to control or predict the bounce of the ball before even trying to contemplate anything which resembled football.

Celtic did their best with Manchester United-bound Liam Miller and Pearson showing some good early touches which infuriated the home crowd even further.

But the ambitious Scotland international ignored that and almost put Craig Beattie through in the sixth minute – but Barry John Corr raced off his line to clear.

Scott McDonald thought he had given the home side a shock lead in the 17th minute when he headed the ball home from close range, after Clarkson had flicked Stephen Craigan’s cross over the head of Marshall – but the linesman rightly had his flag up for offside.

Beattie was raging with John Rowbotham in the 21st minute when he ran at Craigan and appeared to be tripped just outside the box but the referee ignored his pleas.

The home side again did well to play some football in the 24th minute when McDonald picked Alex Burns out in the area but Stephen McManus did well to block his shot.

At the other end Ross Wallace kept on teasing the Motherwell defence and his deep cross was inviting his team-mates to attack it – but Jamie Smith could not make a telling connection.

The youngster’s trickery almost brought him a frustrated kicking in the 36th but Paul Quinn fortunately could not get near him with a reckless swipe which escaped a booking.

The second half started as uninspiring as the first and Clarkson summed up the action with a shot which flashed wide of the post from Burns’ pass.

So bad was the game that the Motherwell supporters turned their attentions to annoying the stewards with a beachball.

But the match finally came to life when Miller lunged at Martyn Corrigan late with two feet and earned the midfielder a deserved yellow card.

But Motherwell snatched a controversial lead in the 64th minute through Clarkson despite a big suggestion of offside.

Burns ran onto Quinn’s through-ball and as the Celtic defence stood expecting the flag to go up he played the ball across goal for the youngster to steer the ball home.

McGeady did not want to be outdone and he pushed his long-range effort around the post before unconvincingly keeping his corner out at the near post.

The same player should have pulled the champions level in the 73rd minute after Beattie had nodded Wallace’s cross into his path but he snatched at it and blazed over the bar.

Lennon was booked for upsetting Rowbotham moments later before Clarkson missed a glorious chance to kill Celtic off in the 77th minute.

Marshall kept Craigan’s header out, from Jason Dair’s corner, but the youngster blazed over from under the crossbar.

That proved costly, however, as Celtic drew themselves level in the 79th minute when Beattie arrived at the near post to head Smith’s corner across the goalline.

McManus was booked late on for a foul on Kenny Wright before Burns headed straight at Marshall from eight yards.