Celtic saviour Henrik Larsson came off the bench to maintain their unbeaten home record and their 16-point lead over Rangers at the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

Terry Butcher's talented youngsters, smarting from a defeat to Inverness, threatened to succeed where the likes of Barcelona, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Porto, Valencia, Lyon and Liverpool had failed when they took the lead through Derek Adams.

But Larsson rescued a depleted young Celtic side, who were missing the likes of Chris Sutton, Alan Thompson, Neil Lennon, Didier Agathe, Robert Douglas, Jackie McNamara and John Hartson, although he could not extend their 25-match winning run in the SPL.

Motherwell were given a huge lift prior to kick-off when they saw the teamsheet, which included seven Scots - including teenage goalkeeper David Marshall.

They would have snatched a surprise early lead after just four minutes but for the reactions of the youngster, who could be called upon in the Nou Camp.

Scott McDonald's cross eventually found its way to Alex Burns and his fierce volley was pushed around the post by Marshall.

But Celtic responded instantly and Stephen Pearson headed Wallace's cross over from just seven yards before former Celt Gordon Marshall saved Momo Sylla's drive.

Balde breathed a sigh of relief at the other end as his defensive header from Keith Lasley's cross flew just past the upright.

What was even stranger was the sight of the young defender charging forward moments later and exchanging passes with Beattie before chipping the ball onto the roof of the net.

The game was flowing from end to end and David Clarkson fired just over the Celtic bar before Momo Sylla headed Ross Wallace's cross over from six yards.

Marshall was again impressive in the 17th minute to hold Burns' long-range effort as it bobbled along the poor Parkhead playing surface.

The atmosphere was unsurprisingly flat in comparison to the noise created for the visits of the Catalan giants and Rangers in the past week.

But the home crowd were lifted in the 22nd minute when Celtic put together their best move of the first-half which deserved the opening goal.

Jamie Smith played a one-two with Sylla and found Craig Beattie on the edge of the six-yard area and he did everything right with a powerful header into the ground - but Marshall would not even be able to explain how the ball hit him and bounced over the crossbar.

Smith was giving Steven Hammell a hard time on the right and he fired over moments later before Motherwell snatched the lead in some fashion.

Lasley got to the byline and pulled the ball back to Derek Adams, just outside the box, and he drove a right-foot shot past the hand of Marshall and into the corner of the net.

Celtic realised their awesome home record was in danger of being ended and Sylla's cross was deflected by the post by Martyn Corrigan and Beattie fired over.

Wallace almost gifted Motherwell a second in the 38th minute when he picked out Clarkson brilliantly with a back-pass but Marshall came to his rescue with a save with his feet.

Sylla should have pulled the home side on level terms in the 42nd minute when Wallace picked him out in the box, after Pearson's pass, but he headed straight to Marshall.

Celtic came within inches of levelling in the 47th minute when Lambert crashed a volley again the foot of the post after Hammell had headed Wallace's cross away.

Smith then went close when Petrov picked him out and he cut inside before drilling a low drive past the upright.

The home side continued to press after Larsson replaced Beattie and Marshall again denied them in the 69th minute by turning Pearson's snapshot around the post.

But the pressure told from the resulting corner as Larsson forced the ball over the line at the near post, from Wallace's cross.

Celtic could have been given a penalty to complete the turnaround in the 76th minute but Tom Brown waved away the protests after Adams had appeared to foul Sylla in the box.

The woodwork again came to the visitors' rescue in the 85th minute when Pearson let fly with a long-range effort which flicked the crossbar on its way into the crowd.

Larsson attempted one last heroic effort in injury-time, which would have been cruel on Motherwell, but justice was done as the ball flew wide.

Teams

Celtic Marshall, Kennedy, Balde, Varga, Smith, Petrov, Lambert, Pearson, Wallace (Agathe 87), Beattie (Larsson 57), Sylla.

Subs Not Used: Douglas, McNamara, McManus.

Booked: Petrov.

Goals: Larsson 70.

Motherwell Marshall, Quinn, Corrigan, Craigan, Hammell, Adams, Lasley, Fagan (Dair 89), Scott McDonald, Burns, Clarkson (Wright 70).

Subs Not Used: Corr, Kinniburgh, Fitzpatrick.

Goals: Adams 26.

Att: 47,563

Ref: T Brown (Scotland).