Liam Scales relives Celtic carnage at Motherwell as stoppage time bedlam comes with Champions League boost

Liam Scales reckons Celtic showed huge character to dig themselves out of a hole in Motherwell.

And the defender knows they are going to need to get the shovels out again to show that spirit in spades when Lazio come calling. Scales had a smile as wide as the Clyde at the weekend after a bonkers finale at Fir Park. Celts were not at their slick best but bagged three crucial Premiership points in a wild final spell at Fir Park where they went ahead with three minutes left of normal time but feared they’d been pegged back by Motherwell in stoppage time.

But Matt O’Riley pounced in the 97th minute to spark carnage in the away end and send the Hoops flying into Wednesday’s Champions League clash. Scales knows Celtic managed to shovel themselves out of a hole against the Steelmen and it will take similar mental strength against the Serie A big guns. He said: “It was a massive goal because it keeps us on a good roll. In the league, we have been on a roll and it gave the fans a buzz too.

"Wednesday night is going to be amazing and the fans will be right behind us because they know how much we had to dig in to get the points today.

“It’s momentum isn’t it? It shows we are going in the right direction. A lot of these Champions League games are all about digging in for each other and showing character.”

It was better late than never for Celtic at Fir Park. Motherwell were left gutted after pushing the champs all the way and there would not have been too many complaints if the sides shared the spoils after chances at both ends.

But Luis Palma – who was lively from the bench – whipped over a dangerous curling cross that crept in at the back post to set up a crazy end to the clash.

Scales insisted he kept the faith – even after