A first-half goal from Anthony Stokes was enough to give Celtic all three points in their Scottish Premiership match against Motherwell at Fir Park this afternoon.
The visitors needed less than six minutes to break the deadlock as Stefan Johansen rounded Dan Twardzik before pulling the ball back for Stokes to tap in from close range.
Motherwell had a chance to get back on level terms shortly after when Iain Vigurs launched a 20-yard effort towards the Celtic goal, but it curled just wide.
John Guidetti thought that he had doubled the Scottish champions' lead when he found the back of the net with an acrobatic overhead kick, but the referee chalked the goal off for an offside in the build-up.
Vigurs had another chance just before the break, but Craig Gordon kept his strike out after he had gotten the better of Efe Ambrose in the box.
James Forrest could have doubled Celtic's lead early in the second half, but his long-range effort was comfortably saved.
The home side's hopes of an equaliser were dealt a blow when Simon Ramsden was dismissed for a foul on Forrest with 25 minutes still to play.
Emilio Izaguirre tried to make the most of the sending-off with a shot from the left-hand side of the box, but his first shot was parried before he fired the rebound high.
Motherwell looked for a strong finish as they tried to rescue a point, but Lee Erwin headed wide despite being left unmarked in the visitors' box, ensuring that Celtic secured the victory.
The win is Celtic's seventh in a row, and leaves them four points clear at the top of the table.
Sian Cowper
