Celtic produced a performance befitting of champions at Fir Park on Tuesday to move within just one victory of the Scottish Premier League title.

Paul Lambert put the defending champions on course by finishing off a glorious move before a Henrik Larsson double and a Johan Mjallby strike finished off Motherwell.

The home side's misery was compounded when Stephen Pearson was controversially dismissed by referee Stuart Dougal in the 55th minute for a late challenge on winger Didier Agathe.

But Motherwell were never in the match and Celtic could even win their first back-to-back titles in 20 years if Rangers lose at home to Kilmarnock tomorrow night.

The visitors started like they wanted to finish the job early and even without a clutch of first-team stars they were making the Motherwell defence nervous.

Home goalkeeper Francois Dubourdeau got an early touch when he saved John Hartson's powerful left-foot shot by his post in the fifth minute.

But the Welshman should have put the champions-elect in front two minutes later.

Agathe got away from his marker down the right flank and whipped in a great cross, but the Welshman headed wide from six yards.

Motherwell were warned, but there was little they could do to prevent Celtic's brilliant 10th-minute opener.

Lambert played the ball up to Larsson and the Swedish star back-heeled the ball into the path of the Scotland midfielder to prod the ball under Dubourdeau.

Motherwell came battling back and Robert Douglas needed to make a save by his post to deny James McFadden three minutes later, but Celtic had a glorious chance to extend their lead just two minutes later.

Hartson crossed from the right and Larsson managed to lose his man, but headed straight at the keeper from eight yards.

Celtic will wonder how they failed to increase their lead again in the 28th minute when the Motherwell goal came under siege.

Lubo Moravcik did well down the left before curling in a tantalising cross for Hartson, who was unable to direct his header on target, but the visitors maintained possession.

Then Stilian Petrov, with two goals in two games, unleashed a fierce right-foot shot which Dubourdeau could only parry.

Again Celtic came at them and Larsson crossed to the far post for Hartson to head across the face of goal, but Johan Mjallby failed to bundle the ball home from two yards and Motherwell breathed a sigh of relief.

The home side were lucky not to be dead and buried and Greg Strong tried to pull them back on level terms before the break, but his long-range effort was saved by Douglas.

After the restart Celtic were still unable to grab the killer goal and in the 49th minute it was the woodwork which denied them.

Agathe exchanged passes with Lambert and delivered a great cross to the far post and Morovcik headed against the foot of the post.

But there was nothing Motherwell could do to stop the Glasgow side from increasing their lead four minutes later.

Larsson pealed away from his marker and got on the end of Moravcik's corner to head past the Motherwell keeper.

The home side's hopes of a comeback disappeared a minute later when Pearson was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on Agathe although a booking would have sufficed.

Celtic took advantage of their extra man by increasing their lead further just five minutes later.

Hartson took the ball around Dubourdeau and the Frenchman had no option but to bring him down and Larsson stepped up to blast the ball into the bottom corner for his 31st goal of the season.

The visitors were threatening to run riot and they almost scored their fourth of the night in emphatic fashion after 65 minutes.

Moravcik chipped the ball to Petrov on the edge of the area and the Bulgarian unleashed a right-foot volley which was turned around the post by the Motherwell keeper.

Mjallby became the next Celtic star to get on the act in the 78th minute when he hit a glorious right-foot shot past Dubourdeau from 25 yards.

Hartson would have wondered how he managed not to score in the latter stages as had a goal chalked off for off-side and squandered another glorious opportunity.

But the Celtic fans were celebrating well before that as they already knew that the title was almost theirs again.

And it could well be tomorrow night.

Teams

Motherwell: Dubourdeau, Corrigan, Ready, Strong, Hammell, Lasley (Ferrere 58), Soloy, Deloumeaux, Pearson, Elliott (Adams 87), McFadden.

Subs Not Used: Martinez, Woods, Ramsey.

Sent Off: Pearson (56).

Celtic: Douglas, Boyd, Mjallby, Crainey, Agathe (Smith 68), Lambert (McNamara 68), Petrov, Guppy, Moravcik (Sylla 68), Larsson, Hartson.

Subs Not Used: Gould, Tebily.

Booked: Guppy.

Goals: Lambert 10, Larsson 53, 61 pen, Mjallby 78.

Att: 10,134

Ref: Stuart Dougal (Scotland).