Celtic provided some New Year's resolution as late goals from Henrik Larsson and John Hartson sunk Motherwell and moved Martin O'Neill's men 13 points clear of Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League.

But while the championship looks destined for the Parkhead trophy cabinet and with the 'treble double' a massive possibility - 2002 could be a long one off the field.

Manager O'Neill's comments yesterday that he would not "dread" an approach from Manchester United to replace Sir Alex Ferguson would have sent shock waves through Parkhead.

The players, and Larsson in particular, seemed affected by it at times during the game while the board and supporters must also be concerned about whether they could keep him.

The crowd certainly seemed subdued when the game got under way, but in-form striker Hartson almost brought them to life with a fluke after just three minutes.

The Welshman's curled cross deceived goalkeeper Stephen Woods, who wrongly decided the ball to have gone out - but his blushes were spared as it bounced off the crossbar.

Hartson then turned provider for Larsson, who really should have scored with a gift just two minutes later.

The Swede laid the ball off to his strike partner in the box and then received the ball back just six yards out, but uncharacteristically headed straight at Woods.

Motherwell found it tough to create anything in the opposition half during the first period, but some lethargic lapses in the Celtic defence caused the home fans some anxious moments.

Larsson went close to breaking the deadlock in the 23rd minute, but he headed Stilian Petrov's corner onto the roof of the net from six yards.

The visitors, however, did break away two minutes later when Yan Soloy sent Martyn Corrigan away on the overlap. His run was halted by a trip by Alan Thompson, who was perhaps fortunate to escape with just a booking.

Larsson squandered another glorious chance to give Celtic the lead in the 28th minute from Petrov's cut-back, but he screwed his right-foot effort wide of the post.

Seven minutes later and Hartson again hit the woodwork after reading Thompson's free-kick perfectly, but his stretching effort crashed against the foot of the post and came out.

Referee Alan Freeland then incensed the home crowd by failing to give Celtic a free-kick on the edge of the Motherwell box after Hartson was clearly man-handled by Greg Strong.

But he responded by booking Karl Ready for a reckless challenge from behind on Larsson.

Motherwell then survived a late onslaught with Larsson and Hartson both going close with headers from corners.

Celtic appeared to come out for the second half with more purpose and twice went close within three minutes.

The home side were awarded a free-kick in the 49th minute and Thompson, with two goals in his last two games, let fly with a fierce left-foot effort which Woods had to divert over the bar.

The Motherwell keeper then bettered that effort and spared Ready's blushes after his mistake allowed Larsson to run clean from Hartson's pass, but Woods saved low to his left.

Woods again denied the home side with his best save of the match in the 58th minute.

Hartson's knockdown from Paul Lambert's long ball was picked up by Valgaeren, who unleashed a shot which would have nestled in the bottom corner, but for the keeper's one-handed save.

Celtic almost paid the price in the 63rd minute when Soloy found the overlapping Steven Hammell down the left, but his chip had too much power to dip underneath the crossbar.

Moments later and Hartson headed Lambert's cross just over before Woods again pulled off a great stop to deny Larsson from the Welshman's pass.

O'Neill brought on Slovakian playmaker Lubo Moravcik for Petrov in the 66th minute in a desperate bid for a goal.

Then in the last throw of the dice O'Neill threw on Bobby Petta for Balde in the 77th minute - and his boldness paid off with the opener within four minutes.

Hartson knocked Lambert's long-ball into the path of Larsson, who shrugged off the challenge of Eric Deloumeaux before scoring past the despairing dive of Woods.

Larsson should have wrapped up the points, but again he fired wide with just the goalkeeper to beat.

However, Hartson made no mistake in injury time by firing Larsson's centre home from close range for his 13th goal in as many starts.

So the home side start 2002 in much the same way as they ended the previous year - but O'Neill's future remains a massive worry.

Teams

Celtic: Douglas, Mjallby, Balde (Petta 78), Valgaeren, McNamara, Lennon, Lambert, Petrov (Moravcik 66), Thompson, Larsson, Hartson.

Subs Not Used: Gould, Maloney, Smith.

Booked: Thompson.

Goals: Larsson 81, Hartson 90.

Motherwell: Woods, Ready, Strong, Deloumeaux, Corrigan, Dow, Soloy, Lasley (Elliott 87), Hammell, McFadden, Kelly.

Subs Not Used: Brown, Martinez, Adams, Pearson.

Booked: Ready, Kelly, Corrigan, McFadden.

Att: 57,648

Ref: A Freeland (Scotland).