Celtic-bound Scott McDonald justified Motherwell manager Maurice Malpas's decision to play him with a double to down Dunfermline.

The Australian, who this week agreed to join the champions in the summer, kept the Fifers six points adrift at the bottom of the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

There was no backlash against the striker from the home fans but he was not popular with the away support after winning a penalty from Phil McGuire's clumsy challenge.

The Pars played some neat football and pushed forward in numbers, mostly in the first half, but struggled to trouble Motherwell keeper Graeme Smith.

Well made two changes from their last match - a 2-0 defeat by Aberdeen almost three weeks ago - with Martyn Corrigan and Paul Keegan replacing Marc Fitzpatrick and David Clarkson.

Dunfermline brought in Sol Bamba, Scott Muirhead and Greg Shields, with Tam McManus and Scott Wilson suspended and Greg Ross on the bench.

The opening stages were broken up by stoppages before both sides came close from long range.

Adam Hammill was only a yard over with a free-kick for Dunfermline, while Kevin McBride's superb volley fizzed inches past the top corner.

Dunfermline wide men Hammill and Muirhead drove forward and Jim McIntyre forced a save from Smith after good build-up play.

The Pars began to push Motherwell back but Paterson broke in from the left at the other end and fired over.

Keegan controlled a long ball just inside the box but his weak shot drifted wide, while Hammill's cross was just too high for Jim O'Brien to head on target at the other end.

Poor set-pieces from Hammill and McBride towards the end of the first half were typical of what had gone before - promising moves let down by the final ball.

Hammill then delivered a better free-kick from the left but the angle was too tight for Muirhead to test Smith with his back-post header.

The on-loan Liverpool player sent in another dangerous ball after the break but the excellent Mark Reynolds cleared well from O'Brien.

And referee Stephen Finnie pointed to the spot when McDonald put the ball past McGuire and went down over the defender's sliding challenge.

The Australian seemed to play for it but there was definite contact and no complaint from the defender, who was booked.

He sent Dorus De Vries the wrong way to give the hosts a 51st-minute lead.

Moments later, good work from McDonald and Keegan set up Jim Paterson but the midfielder dragged his shot wide.

Keegan rose well at the back post to force De Vries to push his header wide after a Brian Kerr free-kick, and at the other end Smith dived well to save McIntyre's header after a Stephen Glass set-piece.

Scott Morrison, Muirhead and Stephen Craigan followed McGuire into the book as the game developed an edge.

Bamba headed wide from Hammill's corner before McDonald made it 2-0 in the 62nd minute with a cool finish after latching on to Keegan's header on.

McDonald received a yellow card for failing to retreat at a free-kick and team-mate Danny Murphy was booked for a late challenge.

Pars boss Stephen Kenny had to gamble and he threw on Stevie Crawford for McGuire and switched to three at the back.

Crawford latched on to Kerr's short back-header but Smith and his defenders got back to clear.

McIntyre looped a header over from O'Brien's cross but the Pars could not mount a concerted fightback and Keegan could have made it three only to volley over from 12 yards.

Gary Mason was the seventh man booked as Dunfermline failed to capitalise on St Mirren's defeat at Falkirk.

Teams:

Motherwell Graeme Smith, Corrigan, Craigan, Reynolds, Murphy,McBride (Darren Smith 69), Kerr, Vadocz, Paterson, Keegan,McDonald.

Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Clarkson, McGarry, Kinniburgh, Molloy,

Fitzpatrick.

Booked: Craigan, McDonald, Murphy.

Goals: McDonald 51 pen, 62.

Dunfermline De Vries, Bamba, McGuire (Crawford 75), Shields,Scott Morrison, O'Brien, Mason, Glass, Hammill (Ryan 90),McIntyre, Muirhead (Burchill 62).

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, McCunnie, Ross, Williamson.

Booked: McGuire, Scott Morrison, Shields, Mason.

Att: 4,511

Ref: S Finnie (Scotland).