Stilian Petrov and Paul Lambert both struck stunning doubles to fire the champions back to the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League in awesome fashion at Fir Park on Wednesday night.

Martin O'Neill's men knew before kick-off that they needed to score four clear goals against the bottom club to go above Rangers on goal-difference.

Derek Adams was sent-off for an off-the-ball clash with Alan Thompson which sparked a dramatic loss of discipline and ultimately the goals for Petrov and Lambert.

The evening had started well for Motherwell when Steven Hammell beat Shaun Maloney before drilling a low left-foot effort just past the upright.

Celtic knew they were in a game and they responded well with Thompson firing a trademark low drive which took a deflection to take it just wide.

The resulting corner brought the first real chance which fell to Henrik Larsson.

Thompson swung in a free-kick which Bobo Balde missed, but with Stephen Woods scurrying across his goal the Swede prodded the ball past the post from two yards.

Celtic continued to create chances and the home side needed a great save from Woods to deny Lambert in the 13th minute.

Didier Agathe swung a cross to the far post for Larsson to steer the ball into the path of the midfielder, whose shot was touched wide by the goalkeeper's outstretched foot.

A minute later and Tony Vaughan was lucky not to be red-carded when he pulled Larsson back. Referee Dougie McDonald awarded a free-kick and Maloney's right-foot shot was comfortably saved by Woods.

Motherwell did lose a player in the 19th minute after David Cowan was stretchered off with a broken right ankle after an innocuous challenge by Lambert.

He was replaced by William Kinniburgh before James McFadden tested Javier Sanchez Broto with a well-struck left-foot which the Spaniard got down well to save.

But on the half-hour the crowd saw the worst of the young Motherwell star when he appeared to raise his hands to Lennon after the Northern Irishman fired the ball at him.

Only the Celtic man was cautioned, but moments later Motherwell were reduced to 10 men.

Thompson went down after an off-the-ball incident involving Adams and having consulted a linesman, the Motherwell man was shown the red card.

That sparked an angry reaction, but Motherwell almost took the lead in the 32nd minute.

Martyn Corrigan let fly with a powerful right-foot shot from 23 yards which Broto acrobatically turned over the crossbar.

That proved a decisive moment because just three minutes later Celtic went ahead through Petrov.

The Bulgarian was left in space on right and Larsson threaded the ball through to him to blast past Woods.

Motherwell were losing their shape and heads and Corrigan was booked for a reckless lunge on Lambert.

In first-half injury-time Woods redeemed himself for Celtic's goal when he pushed Petrov's shot away and saved Thompson's low strike.

The half-time break failed to settle Motherwell's high spirits and Vaughan was the next man booked for a foul on McNamara.

But Maloney came within inches of doubling Celtic's advantage just five minutes after the restart.

Larsson unselfishly headed Lambert's cross into his path and he fired wide from the edge of the area.

But the writing was on the wall and Celtic did double their lead in the 56th minute when it was Petrov again who continued his rich vein of scoring form.

Larsson found him on the overlap and he calmly chipped the ball over the advancing Woods for his fourth goal in two games.

Celtic could sense that more goals were available and they squared the goal-difference at the top of the table in stunning style.

Lambert and Maloney exchanged passes for the Scotland international to fire past the rooted Woods from close range.

The midfielder was not finished there and he produced arguably one of the goals of his European Cup-winning career in the 65th minute to score Celtic's fourth.

Again he played a one-two with Maloney, but this time he controlled the ball and lobbed the ball over the stranded Woods and into the corner of an empty net.

Motherwell again lost their cool with David Partridge and McFadden joining the growing list of cautions.

Larsson could have rounded the result off in style with four minutes left, but he fired over from eight yards after substitute Jamie Smith had done well down the right.

Broto enhanced his growing reputation in the final minutes when he saved from Richard Offiong to make sure Celtic were top of the table.

Teams

Motherwell: Woods, Corrigan, Partridge, Vaughan, Hammell, Cowan (Kinniburgh 19), Adams, Leitch, Pearson, McFadden (Offiong 70), Clarkson (Lehmann 76).

Subs Not Used: Lasley, Dubourdeau.

Sent Off: Adams (31).

Booked: Corrigan, Vaughan, McFadden, Partridge.

Celtic: Broto, McNamara, Balde, Laursen, Agathe (Sylla 83), Lennon, Lambert, Petrov, Thompson (Crainey 90), Maloney (Smith 80), Larsson.

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Varga.

Booked: Lennon.

Goals: Petrov 36, 56, Lambert 61, 65.

Att: 12,037

Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).