Celtic 3-0 Motherwell: Fran Alonso wants side to raise standards despite win

Celtic FC Women @CelticFCWomen

Full-time and it's another three points for the Celts! 🍀

Fran Alonso said Celtic need to raise their standards, despite beating Motherwell 3-0 to move into second in SWPL 1.

A brace from Rachel Donaldson and a Sarah Teegarden header proved enough his side to leapfrog Rangers in the table.

Celtic host leaders Glasgow City on Wednesday, who they trail by five points and have lost twice to this season.

“There are no easy games any more in this league so we have to be happy with the result,” Alonso told BBC Scotland. “But we have to be demanding a lot from ourselves as well.

“With the talent we have got, I think we can play better, but I’ll take a win and a clean sheet every game even if the performance is not [as good].”

All three goals came in the first half for the hosts as Motherwell rallied well in the second period and prevented their opponents from creating many chances.

Motherwell’s defeat was their third in a row, and they remain in seventh - two points above bottom-club Hearts.

Motherwell started brightly and were arguably the better side in the opening stages of the game. However, Celtic drew first blood with their first real opportunity of the game.

Sarah Ewens broke free down the right, and her pinpoint cross was headed home at the back post by Donaldson.

Jacynta was unlucky not to score her first Celtic goal but rolled her shot inches wide. Teegarden and Jenna Clark both headed wide, while Forfar’s Jade Gallon shot over on the counter for the visitors.

It was 2-0 when Teegarden’s precise through ball set Mariah Lee clear down the right hand side. When her cross came in, Donaldson was on hand once again to turn the ball home.

The third goal came from good play down the Celtic right once more, with Filbey perfectly finding Teegarden’s run into the box and giving her the simple task of directing her header beyond the Motherwell goalkeeper.

The American, though, was lucky to escape with only a yellow card shortly afterwards for a dangerous challenge on Kaela McDonald-Nguah.

Lori @lorigardnerrr

Apparently this is only a yellow card these days... 🤣🤣🤣

After the break, Robertson shot over from 25 yards, while Jacynta saw her effort saved from around the same distance but chances were generally hard to come by in the second period, with the stream of substitutions disrupting the rhythm of the game.

Celtic handed a debut from the bench to London Pollard, who recently made the move from Forfar Farmington, and she had a golden opportunity to score only to put her shot wide.

Player of the Match - Rachel Donaldson

Donaldson was playing as a right back this week, as manager Fran Alonso admitted he was looking for some extra attacking threat from his full-backs against Motherwell.

Donaldson certainly provided plenty of attacking flair in the first half, popping up in the Motherwell box to take her two goals well and set her side on their way to victory.

Motherwell had some standout performers in defence and they worked tirelessly throughout the side, while Tegan Bowie impressed off the bench for Celtic, but Donaldson was the key difference on the day.