Scottish Premier League/Celtic - 5 Motherwell - 0: Stilian Petrov showed for the second time in a week why Celtic are afraid to lose him after his treble against Motherwell. There were suggestions after his match-winner at Rugby Park on Sunday that manager Gordon Strachan was in a hurry for him to sign a contract extension.
And it was clear to see why the Celtic manager is keen to scare off any interested parties after he hit a superb hat-trick to inspire his team-mates, who also celebrated a Shaun Maloney strike and a brilliant Shunsuke Nakamura free-kick.
Motherwell famously handed Rangers the title after Scott McDonald's dramatic double against Celtic in May and they drew 4-4 with Strachan's men at Fir Park on the opening day of this league season.
But Petrov and co saw off any hopes of a further upset to pile the pressure on Hearts at the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League.
Celtic took the lead in the in the 14th minute and it was weekend hero Petrov again in the right place at the right time. There was a hint of offside as the Bulgarian controlled Shaun Maloney's pass and again coolly slotted the ball home.
Maloney was also celebrating hitting the net just two minutes later which looked to have killed the game off. Beattie found his team-mate at the far post with a great cross and Maloney had time to control the ball before firing past Smith from eight yards.
Motherwell manager Terry Butcher was forced to make a change in the 22nd minute when Paul Quinn came on for Steven Hammell before things got even worse for the visitors.
Beattie found Petrov who curled a left-foot shot past the hand of goalkeeper Graeme Smith and into the bottom corner of the net from 20 yards.
Motherwell came close to pulling a goal back in the 52nd minute. McLean sent Brian Kerr's corner towards goal but Mo Camara was on the line to block and clear the ball downfield.
Nakamura showed just why Strachan bought him in the 71st minute when he sent a sensational left-foot free-kick flying past Smith and into the top corner from 27 yards.
But the night belonged to Petrov and there was still time for him to cap a memorable night with his hat-trick after emphatically blasting home a great pass from Sutton.
Meanwhile Hearts stay top of the table thanks to a 1-0 home win over Kilmarnock. Striker Edgaras Jankauskas finished off a fine move to fire home what proved the only goal after 34 minutes and take unbeaten Hearts to 32 points from 12 games.
Champions Rangers fell further behind as they struggled to a 2-2 draw at basement club Livingston despite taking a 2-0 lead through captain Barry Ferguson and Chris Burke.
Livingston's Robert Snodgrass hit a second-half double to ensure a surprise draw for the struggling home side.
CELTIC: Boruc, Telfer, Balde, McManus, Camara (Wallace 59), Nakamura, Petrov, Lennon, Maloney, Sutton (McGeady 83), Beattie (Hartson 63). Subs Not Used: Marshall, Virgo, Agathe, Pearson. Goals: Petrov 14, Maloney 17, Petrov 23, Nakamura 67, Petrov 79.
MOTHERWELL: Graeme Smith, Corrigan, Craigan, Kinniburgh, Hammell (Paul Quinn 22), Fagan, Kerr, McLean (Fitzpatrick 73), Foran (Clarkson 68), Hamilton, Scott McDonald. Subs Not Used: Marshall, Steve McDonald, Connolly, Darren Lee Smith. Booked: Fagan, Kinniburgh, Paul Quinn, Craigan.
Referee: C Richmond (Scotland).
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