Celtic...2 Motherwell...0: It was business as usual for Celtic as Martin O'Neill's champions took over where they left off and immediately justified their status as favourites for the Scottish Premier league title once again.
There will be sterner tests ahead, of course, than Motherwell, who provided only limited opposition at Parkhead but the early signs indicate O'Neill's players have retained the hunger and appetite for success that he voiced concerns over ahead of this opening match.
O'Neill's fears appear groundless, for the group that have won three out of the last four championships - Jackie McNamara, Didier Agathe, Neil Lennon, Alan Thompson, Chris Sutton, et al - were at the forefront of this victory and only 18-year-old Irish international Aiden McGeady disturbed the old guard.
There was also a rapturous reception for new Bhoy Henri Camara but he had to be content with going on as a substitute for John Hartson.
So it is as you were, with Rangers dropping two points at Aberdeen on Saturday to hand an immediate initiative to their rivals, who on this evidence may not miss Henrik Larsson as much as was feared.
Motherwell's resistance lasted only eight minutes and at that point Jackie McNamara sent a fine drive past Gordon Marshall after a half-hearted attempt at a clearance by Shaun Fagan. It was then a procession towards the visiting goalkeeper.
Hartson somehow missed from four yards, a Sutton header was cleared off the line by Fagan and a Stanislav Varga effort was touched over by Marshall.
David Clarkson did miss an opportunity for Motherwell immediately after the restart but as normal service was resumed Sutton slid to knock home a Thompson cross after 55 minutes.
The only dark cloud for Celtic was a late injury to Stilian Petrov, who crumpled to the turf with no one near him. He will have an X-ray today but the damage is understood not to be serious.
However, the concern over the Bulgarian was enough to confirm Celtic's need for new players.
"Nothing is imminent although I am trying to strengthen," said O'Neill. "It is fair and right that I do that and I will be disappointed if I don't get players in before the deadline."
One possibility remains Juninho of Middlesbrough while another is Charles-Edouard Coridon of Lens, who will play, along with Camara, in the friendly against Tottenham tomorrow night.
How Terry Butcher would love to be discussing such players. His star buy during the summer was Brian Kerr from Newcastle, who has been ruled out until March after suffering cruciate ligament damage during pre-season.
"I'm still upbeat about the season, though," insisted Butcher. "We held Celtic for eight minutes. More seriously, I felt we defended well and although it's never nice to lose we could take a few positives from it. Better teams than us will get a hiding here this season."
Motherwell should not be judged too harshly for this was always going to be their most difficult fixture of the season.
CELTIC: Marshall; McNamara, Varga, Valgaeren, Agathe, McGeady (Pearson 74), Lennon, Petrov (Sylla 88), Thompson, Hartson (Camara 67), Sutton. Subs not used: Hedman, Laursen, Wallace, Beattie. Goals: McNamara 8, Sutton 55.
MOTHERWELL: Marshall; Corrigan, Kinniburgh, Craigan, Hammell, O'Donnell, Leitch, Fagan (Fitzpatrick 71), Paterson, Burns (Foran 60), Clarkson (Scott McDonald 60). Subs not used: Corr, Partridge, Cowan, Keogh.
Referee: K Clark (Scotland).
