Celtic were forced to work hard for a 2-0 victory over ten-man Motherwell at Parkhead on Saturday.

Celtic's midweek Champions League exertions seemed to have taken their toll on the Parkhead players but Paul Hartley put them into the lead just before half-time before David Clarkson saw red for elbowing substitute Paul Caddis.

Motherwell's hopes of getting a point where extinguished when former Fir Park favourite Scott McDonald doubled Celtic's lead.

Celtic made only one change from the side that drew with Manchester United with Mark Brown replacing Artur Boruc in goal as the Polish keeper prepares for knee surgery next week.

In the opening stages the Celtic players looked tired and it was Motherwell who thought they had taken the lead in the 12th minute.

John Sutton's header looked to have crossed the line before Shaun Maloney got his head to it to clear it.

Clarkson then picked up the rebound in the box and fired in a low drive which Mark Brown did well to save.

Scott Brown then came close for Celtic when he slammed a McDonald cut back from the byeline off the post.

McDonald was next to try his luck with a shot on the turn from about 25 yards out which forced a superb one-handed save from Graeme Smith after 21 minutes.

Motherwell striker Chris Porter saw his header from a Steven Hammell corner go inches by the far post just a minute later.

Hartley found Australian striker McDonald unmarked in the box from a corner and Smith had to dive low to turn his downward header round the post after 29 minutes.

McDonald thought he had scored after 44 minutes when he headed home at the back post from a Hartley cross but his effort was ruled out for a foul on Paul Quinn.

Celtic took the lead with seconds of the half remaining through Hartley. The midfielder controlled a headed clearance on his chest and then rifled in a low drive past Smith from 20 yards.

Stephen Hughes' fierce volley from the edge of the box looked to be heading in before a deflection took it wide after 47 minutes.

Porter should have equalised in the 54th minute when Hughes' chipped the ball into the box was knocked into his path by Clarkson but the Englishman knocked the ball by the post.

Motherwell were reduced to ten men in the 58th minute when Clarkson appeared to catch substitute Caddis in the face with his arm after he lashed out when the Celtic defender pulled him back by the shirt.

Andreas Hinkel made a surging run into the box in the 64th minute but McDonald took the ball off him and sent a shot high over the bar just as it looked like the German was going to pull the trigger himself.

Celtic doubled their advantage after 70 minutes through former Motherwell striker McDonald.

The ball broke to him on the edge of the box and he unleashed a low drive which flew under the arms of Smith.

Caddis came close with a curling effort in the 80th minute and sub Koki Mizuno, on for his debut, hit an effort just over the bar in injury time as Celtic dominated the final period.

At Easter Road Inverness Caledonian Thistle defeated Hibernian 2-1 with goals from Don Cowie and Ian Black and a late consolation from Hibs striker Derek Riordan.

Hamilton and Falkirk played out a 1-1 draw at New Douglas Park with goals from James McCarthy and Bairns striker Michael Higdon.

Dundee United held on to third place in the SPL after they defeated Aberdeen 2-1 at Tannadice with goals from Francisco Sandaza and Warren Fenney before Darren Mackie scored the Dons consolation goal.

Hearts defeated St Mirren 1-0 at Love Street with a late goal from Eggert Jonsson.

AFP

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