Celtic 0 Motherwell 1MIDFIELDER Simon Lappin all but ended Celtic's hopes of holding on to their league title with a first-half winner at Parkhead on Saturday.
The former St Mirren player - on loan from Norwich - scored in the 32nd minute against the run of play when he volleyed home from 10 yards after Artur Boruc had parried a Marc Fitzpatrick drive.
However, league leaders Rangers then squandered the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the table to nine points after being held to a 3-3 draw by Dundee United at Tannadice yesterday.
Christian Kalvenes, Noel Hunt and an own goal from Carlos Cuellar provided the home side with the lead on three occasions but they were pegged back each time by Rangers in a thrilling contest.
David Weir, Nacho Novo and Kris Boyd were all on the scoresheet for Rangers but theyfailed to find the winning goal that would have allowed them to take a major leap towards wrapping up the title following Celtic's 1-0 defeat.
Motherwell midfielder Bob Malcolm was shown a straight red card five minutes after the interval for an over-the-top tackle on Massimo Donati but Celtic failed to capitalise and are still six points behind Rangers who have two games in hand.
It was a disastrous afternoon for the champions who were booed off at the end by those fans who had bothered to stay until the final whistle. Former Celtic captain Neil Lennon, recruited to the Parkhead coaching staff in midweek from Wycombe, was the subject of the photographers' attention as he took his place in the dugout before the game.
The Northern Irishman must have wondered what he had returned to as the home side dominated the first half only to go in a goal down at the interval.
It was one-way traffic from the first whistle. Midfielder Scott Brown, playing his last game before a three-match ban, scooped a shot from the edge of the Motherwell box over the crossbar in the fifth minute.
Moments later, after Motherwell skipper Paul Quinn was short with a pass back, Donati blasted an angled-shot straight at Fir Park goalkeeper Graeme Smith when he might have been better cutting the ball back for someone in a better position.
The home fans' calls for the introduction of Georgios Samaras were rewarded on the hour mark when the Greece international replaced Scott McDonald, who had words with Celtic manager Gordon Strachan before slumping in the dugout.
CELTIC: Boruc, Hinkel (Hutchinson 87), Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Scott Brown, Donati (Robson 69), McGeady, McDonald (Samaras 60), Vennegoor of Hesselink. Subs not used: Mark Brown, Wilson, Sno, Hartley.
MOTHERWELL: Graeme Smith, Quinn (Brian McLean 86), Reynolds, Craigan, Hammell, Fitzpatrick, Malcolm, Hughes, Lappin, Porter, McCormack (Murphy 77). Subs not used: Daniels, Lasley, McGarry, Darren Smith, Archdeacon. Booked: Porter, Graeme Smith.
Referee: C Murray (Scotland).
