Celtic 3 Motherwell 1: Celtic pulled three second-half goals out of the bag yesterday to ease their European hangover and cruelly compound the pain of bottom-of-the-table Motherwell.
Henrik Larsson, an own-goal from Scott Leitch and a Joos Valgaeren strike gave the home side some much-needed medicine as they struggled after their midweek win over Celta Vigo.
Terry Butcher's courageous men - with David Partridge, Daniel Sengewald and Stephen Pearson missing after being sent off last week - bagged a deserved consolation through Dirk Lehmann, but they had Shaun Fagan sent off late on.
It could have been a lot more comfortable for the home side had Larsson not missed a penalty after just 90 seconds.
David Fernandez was brought down from behind by Derek Adams' clumsy challenge, but the striker blasted wide of the post.
Larrson had to wait until the 53rd minute to score his 26th goal of the season when Steve Guppy picked him out at the far post and, despite the ball coming off his shin, it nestled in the back of the net.
Like last week, Motherwell lost their heads and had Fagan booked after clashing with Lambert, who was also shown a yellow card.
The home side doubled their lead on 67 minutes when Leitch slid in to direct Guppy's cross past his own keeper.
And Valgaeren compounded Motherwell's misery in the 73rd minute by converting Alan Thompson's free-kick from close range.
But the visitors were not dead yet and they pulled a deserved goal back two minutes later when Lehmann brilliantly headed home Stephen Hammell's free-kick.
Butcher's men were reduced to 10 men with 10 minutes remaining as Fagan received his second yellow card for punching Paul Quinn's cross into the net.
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill was relieved to get all three points.
"They had three great chances in that half, but Robert Douglas made some good saves so I was obviously pleased to have won.
"It was a big effort on Thursday evening and you never know how much it takes out of you until you get out there.
"But the players wanted to play and I made four changes and I was delighted to have won the game."
Also yesterday, Rangers hit Hearts with a four-goal second-half barrage in a bad-tempered encounter in which Irish defender Alan Maybury was sent off.
CELTIC: Douglas, Valgaeren, Balde, Crainey, Agathe (Sylla 75), Lambert, Thompson, Fernandez, Guppy (McNamara 75), Larsson (Maloney 75), Hartson. Subs Not Used: Gould, Sutton. Booked: Lambert. Goals: Larsson 53, Leitch 67 og, Valgaeren 72.
MOTHERWELL: Dubourdeau, Corrigan, Kinniburgh, Dempsie (Quinn 67), Hammell, Ferguson (Khaled 65), Fagan, Leitch (McDonald 84), Adams, McFadden, Lehmann. Subs Not Used: Woods, Clarkson. Sent Off: Fagan (80). Booked: Fagan, Dempsie. Goals: Lehmann 74.
Referee: J Rowbotham (Scotland).
