Motherwell saw their UEFA Cup dream finally slip away as Celtic rediscovered some much needed fight, that has been missing for most of the season, to earn a draw at Fir Park.

The home side started the game five points behind third-placed Hearts with just four games remaining before the game but in truth Celtic should have had the match sewn up by the interval.

Mark Burchill, who only came into the side minutes before the kick-off after an injury in the warm up to Johan Mjallby, fired his side into the lead after a mistake from goalkeeper Stephen Woods.

But the Motherwell keeper made up for that blunder with a save from Mark Viduka's penalty and Ged Brannan's free-kick on the stroke of half-time gave them hope but Celtic hung on after the re-start for a point.

The visitors were playing for their pride and also for their futures with the arrival of a new head coach, whoever that may be, imminent and a summer clearout surely on the horizon at Parkhead.

The game started at a high tempo but the home team had the first opportunity of the game in the sixth minute when Paul Harvey played the ball through to John Spencer in the area and Kerr blocked the shot out for a corner.

Then Stephen Crainey's centre caused problems in the Motherwell box and the returning Benito Kemble was lucky to see his sliced clearance fly just past the post.

From the resulting corner Eyal Berkovic found Mark Viduka but his header looped just over the bar.

However, Celtic did take the lead in the 16th minute after Burchill capitalised on a bad mistake from Woods.

Motherwell defender Greg Strong played the ball back dangerously to Woods who seemed to dwell and made a hash of his clearance and Burchill slotted the ball into the empty net.

John Spencer then tried to put Motherwell on level terms with an optimistic curler from just outside the box but Kerr held comfortably.

The lively Burchill, who seemed inspired by his shock presence in the side, spun outside the area before firing a fierce drive on target that Woods saved low to his left.

Viduka then went agonisingly close to doubling Celtic's lead when he burst into the area before unleashing a fierce low drive that beat Woods but also slid past the post.

At this stage Celtic looked a team full of confidence with Motherwell letting frustration get the better of them and Brannan went into the book for a lunge on Stephane Mahe.

But the visitors should have gone further ahead in the 27th minute when Viduka held off the challenge of Kemble before Woods saved and somehow Berkovic fired over with the goalkeeper struggling to get to his feet.

Two minutes later and the home players and crowd were up in arms when Viduka went crashing to the ground, somewhat theatrically, under the challenge of Kemble and the referee surprisingly pointed to the spot but justice appeared to be done when Viduka stepped up casually and Woods made a great save from him and then from Crainey's follow-up before the Australian hit the outside of the post with Celtic's third bite of the cherry.

But Celtic suffered more injury heartbreak when Jackie McNamara was stretchered off in some pain in the 40th minute after an innocuous looking challenge on Don Goodman but Celtic were soon left to rue the whole host of missed chances.

On the strike of half-time Olivier Tebily brought down Spencer on the edge of the area and Brannan produced a great strike which curled round the Celtic wall and left Kerr rooted to the spot.

After the restart Celtic seemed to be affected by McNamara's injury and Brannan's goal and could not produce the flowing passes of the first 45 minutes.

Kerr saved his side in the 52nd minute when he made a superb save from Adams after Goodman had teed it up from eight yards out.

Celtic defender Vidar Riseth then became the latest player to be guilty of squandering a wonderful chance of putting the visitors in front in the 55th minute.

After playing a neat one-two with Viduka he took the ball round home keeper Woods but the Norwegian blasted high over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Kerr was again called into action in the 65th minute when Lee McCulloch squared the ball to Adams who fired on target from 25 yards but the keeper saved low to his left.

It was Viduka's turn again to let his side down in front of goal in the 75th minute when he was played through on goal by Burchill but the Australian again dragged his shot wide with just Woods to beat.

Then in the dying seconds substitute Pat Nevin saw his header from Stephen Nicholas' cross sail just over and the Motherwell fans walked away at the end knowing their European dream was over for another year.

Teams:

Motherwell: Woods, Corrigan, Kemble, Strong, Hammell, Goodman (Townsley 62), Harvey (Nevin 80), Brannan, Adams, McCulloch, Spencer (Nicholas 87).

Subs Not Used: Ramsey, Brown.

Booked: Brannan, Goodman.

Goals: Brannan 45.

Celtic: Kerr, Healy, Riseth, Tebily, Mahe, McNamara (Petta 42), Lambert, Berkovic (Lynch 75), Crainey, Viduka, Burchill.

Subs Not Used: Gould, Kennedy, Fotheringhan. Booked: McNamara.

Goals: Burchill 15.

Att: 8,115

Ref: Jim McCluskey (Scotland).