An entertaining second half saw Nir Bitton's deflected shot gave Celtic a 49th minute lead before Louis Moult slammed home an equaliser for Motherwell four minutes later.

Scott McDonald then came back to haunt his former club as the Australian striker earned Motherwell a 59th minute penalty that Moult expertly despatched past Craig Gordon.

Celtic had efforts from Bitton and Mikel Lustig cleared off the line while Motherwell had several chances to add to their advantage as they held on for their first win at Celtic Park since 2008.

Aberdeen's 4-0 demolition of Kilmarnock moves them to with a point of the Hoops, who haven't won at Celtic Park since October 31 following Europa League defeats to Molde, Ajax and a goalless draw with Kilmarnock.

It adds to the woes of Celtic manager Ronny Deila, who was already under pressure following his side's disappointing early exit from Europe.

"Overall it was a bad day at work and in the end I think we deserved to lose," Deila said.

"I think in the first half we didn't play quick enough. In the second half we started well but then we played way too open and were not disciplined enough."

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee was full of praise for his players.

"It was a great performance today and I think we thoroughly deserved to win."

"To come here and win is always a bonus because it is such a difficult place to come."

After a low-key start, the game burst into life in the 20th minute when Ciftci fired home a loose ball after Conor Ripley spilled Bitton's fierce strike but the Turkish striker's effort was disallowed for offside.

At the other end McDonald fired just wide while Marvin Johnson came close after cutting in from the left wing but his ball across goal was cleared off the line by Jozo Simunovic.

The second-half started in explosive fashion as Lionel Ainsworth blew a golden chance to give Motherwell the lead.

Callum McGregor's attempted clearance came back off Ainsworth who raced clean through on goal but the half-time substitute opted to go for a chip that landed on the roof of the net.

Motherwell were left to rue that miss moments later as Bitton opened the scoring for Celtic. Australian international Tom Rogic left the Motherwell defence trailing as he broke into the box and cut the ball back for Bitton whose effort took a deflection on its way past Ripley.

Celtic's lead lasted just four minutes as Moult grabbed Motherwell's equaliser. McDonald worked the ball out to Johnson on the left and his ball into the ball was rifled home by the Motherwell striker.

Motherwell were then awarded a penalty when Simunovic clipped McDonald as he twisted and turned on the edge of the box with Moult drilling the spot-kick beyond Craig Gordon.

Motherwell came close to adding a third minutes later as McDonald forced Gordon into a good save after the striker outmuscled Dedryck Boyata in the box before Moult missed a chance for a hat-trick as he curled the rebound over.

Bitton and Lustig then both had efforts stopped on the line as Celtic pushed for a leveller.

A quick breakaway should have seen Motherwell add to their advantage as Ainsworth picked out Johnson with a cut-back but his strike was blocked by the legs of Gordon.

L. Moult

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