Motherwell - 2 Celtic - 3: Super sub Craig Beattie came to Celtic's rescue with the Fir Park winner on Saturday after their suicidal defence had thrown away a two-goal lead.

Following a dismal first-half the game came to life with goals from Irish international Aiden McGeady and Alan Thompson which should have wrapped up the points for Martin O'Neill's men.

But, after conceding eight goals in their previous three games, Celtic once again pressed the self-destruct button as Martyn Corrigan and Irishman Richie Foran hauled Motherwell level only for Beattie to intervene.

After conceding two goals in the first six minutes against Aberdeen on Wednesday, the visitors would have been satisfied to go in at the break with a clean sheet.

But Foran summed up the standard of the opening half in the seventh minute when he had time in the area to test nervous goalkeeper David Marshall. Didier Agathe, however, was able to clear his weak effort.

With Celtic apparently coasting in the second half after their two goals, O'Neill took off the largely ineffective Juninho off for young striker Beattie - but his time was to come later.

First Motherwell hauled themselves back into the game in the 67th minute when Martyn Corrigan let fly with a right-foot shot from 22 yards which Marshall should have stopped but it ended up in the corner.

But the game was turned on its head in the 71st minute when Dougie McDonald pointed to the spot after Clarkson had gone down in the area from a Bobo Balde challenge.

Foran ignored the mayhem around him and coolly slotted the ball past Marshall. An upset was on the cards but six minutes later Beattie found himself in acres of space in the box, to fire emphatically into the top corner.

Rangers, meanwhile, cut Celtic's lead at the top back down to four points by demolishing Aberdeen 5-0 at Ibrox yesterday.

The Dons would have gone above their hosts and into second spot with a victory, which would have been their first at Ibrox since 1991.

But Jimmy Calderwood's side were wiped out by four second half goals. Nacho Novo netted twice, including from the penalty spot, to continue a hot scoring streak that has now seen him net eight times in as many games.

Substitute Steven Thompson opened the scoring six minutes before the break and the other two were supplied by Peter Lovenkrands and Fernando Ricksen.

MOTHERWELL: Marshall; Paul Quinn, Craigan, Partridge, Hammell, Foran, Corrigan, O'Donnell, Paterson, Burns, Clarkson. Subs Not Used: Corr, Cowan, Wright, Fagan, Kinniburgh, Fitzpatrick, Coakley. Booked: Corrigan.

CELTIC: Marshall; Agathe, Balde, Valgaeren, McNamara, Petrov,Juninho Paulista (Beattie 66), Lennon, Thompson, Hartson, McGeady (Wallace 82). Subs Not Used: Sylla, Pearson, Lambert, Petta, Hedman.Booked: Thompson, Valgaeren.

Referee: D McDonald (Scotland).