Colby Donovan was in the Celtic away end at Motherwell on Wednesday, watching his teammates grind out a 3-2 win that kept their title hopes alive until the final day. The 19-year-old, who has featured sparingly of late because of injury problems and Alistair Johnston's return, was among the travelling support as Celtic laboured through one of the most frantic nights of the season.
Motherwell led through an Elliot Watt strike, but Daizen Maeda pulled Celtic level before Benjamin Nygren fired them in front from long range. Liam Gordon then struck late to bring Motherwell back to 2-2, only for the game to swing again in the final seconds when John Beaton was sent to the VAR monitor to review a handball by Sam Nicholson. A penalty was awarded, Kelechi Iheanacho converted it, and Celtic came away with the 3-2 victory they needed.
The result left Celtic within one point of Hearts going into the final day, with a win required to secure the Scottish Premiership title. A draw would have been enough for Derek McInnes' side to crown themselves champions, which made the late VAR intervention all the more decisive for Celtic and all the more painful for Motherwell.
For Donovan, the night was a reminder of how quickly a season can change. Anthony Ralston has been used as the back-up option on the Celtic bench, leaving the youngster on the margins after a spell disrupted by injury and Johnston's return. Even so, he chose to be there, in the away end, wearing the number 51 and backing his team from the stand as the title race ran to its last act.
The win does not settle anything yet, but it does hand Celtic the clearest possible path: one more victory, and the championship is theirs. For Motherwell, the frustration was obvious. For Celtic, the relief may have mattered just as much as the points.
