Mystery might continue to surround the future of Martin O'Neill - but his men threw away the championship after Scott McDonald's two dramatic late strikes at Fir Park.

With Celtic going into the final day of the Bank of Scotland Premier League season two points above Rangers, their arch rivals needed to win at Hibernian and hope their former star Terry Butcher could rally his injury-ravaged team to do them an unexpected favour.

And O'Neill, who is believed to be wanting a year out from football to be with his sick wife, sent his strongest and most experienced team into battle and it was his most inspirational figure Chris Sutton who looked to have secured the title-winning points.

But Australian-born McDonald, who has a Celtic-supporting father and Rangers supporting mother, stunned them and sent Rangers into ecstacy in a breathtaking season finale.

Celtic were keen to get the job done quickly with Craig Bellamy winning a corner in the first minute, after leaving the Motherwell defence for dead with his pace, which resulted in an early booking for Richie Foran for holding Bobo Balde in the area.

The on-loan striker once again threatened in the sixth minute when he raced away from Craigan having been found in space by John Hartson but like him, his cross had too much pace for Chris Sutton to get on the end of.

Bellamy was involved in the first big talking point after nine minutes when William Kinniburgh seemed fortunate not to be sent off for what looked like a rugby tackle.

Sutton threaded the ball through for the Welshman to run onto but he was sent sprawling to the ground by the youngster's desperate actions.

Referee Hugh Dallas, however, in his final match in charge waved away the protests much to the bemusement of Bellamy and his new team-mates.

The on-loan Newcastle United striker was then denied the opener by the post after exchanging passes with Sutton before firing low which former Celtic goalkeeper Gordon Marshall spilled onto the post and behind for a corner.

The Motherwell man was in goal for Kilmarnock against the Hoops on the final day of the 2002/2003 season in which Rangers won the title on goal difference despite him letting in four goals, but he comfortably held Hartson's bullet header from 16 yards moments later.

But the champions did break the deadlock on the half-hour mark but it could easily have been avoided after slack play from Martyn Corrigan and Foran.

The Irishman left his pass short and Thompson nipped in to steal the ball before firing the ball low across the face of goal.

Marshall could only parry the ball and Sutton arrived at the right time to steer the ball into the net from eight yards out to spark wild celebrations.

Craigan became the second Motherwell defender booked in the 43rd minute after flooring Bellamy with a rash challenge from behind before the Welshman quickly followed him into the book for coming back onto the pitch without being given permission to.

But Celtic survived a major scare just a minute after the break after Motherwell had been presented with two glorious chances from a Jim Paterson corner.

First Craigan headed the cross straight into the face of Didier Agathe from five yards and the ball broke to Kinniburgh but his shot was blocked by skipper Jackie McNamara.

If Motherwell were to score then Rangers would still have to win in the capital for the trophy to go back to Ibrox.

But Hartson could have given Celtic a two-goal cushion in the 54th minute but he headed Thompson cross over from seven yards after an intelligent reverse pass from Stilian Petrov.

The Bulgarian then handed Bellamy the chance to steal the headlines as he played him clean through but Marshall stood up well and got his hands to his effort.

Thompson's deflected shot then flew just wide before Marshall saved well from Sutton after he had cleverly flicked the ball past Kinniburgh from Neil Lennon's pass.

Hartson was again guilty of squandering a glorious opportunity in the 61st minute when Bellamy headed McNamara's cross into his path but he blasted his right-foot volley straight at a relieved Motherwell goalkeeper from just seven yards.

Dallas again rejected Celtic's penalty claims moments later after Mark Fitzpatrick appeared to charge down Agathe's cross with both hands before Thompson chipped over.

O'Neill made a change in the 75th minute by bringing on Craig Beattie, who scored the winner at Tynecastle last week, for weary warrior Hartson.

But with Douglas in goal nothing was certain and he came flapping at a Paterson corner in the 78th minute and was relieved to see Petrov hook the ball away from under his post with Scott McDonald lurking menacingly.

Beattie could have had Motherwell in real danger moments later when Bellamy played him clean through only for the youngster to forget to take the ball with him.

Hamilton blasted over with five minutes remaining before being replaced by former Celtic striker Gerry Britton.

Butcher also threw on Clarkson for Fitzpatrick before McDonald swivelled just inside the box and fired the ball over Douglas and into the top corner, swinging the title pendulum back to Rangers.

And Celtic's title hopes were snuffed out in injury time when McDonald cut inside and hit a shot which took a deflection and spun over Douglas.

Teams:

Motherwell Marshall, Corrigan, Craigan, Kinniburgh, Fagan, Foran, Kerr, Fitzpatrick (Clarkson 88), Paterson, Scott McDonald, Hamilton (Britton 85).

Subs Not Used: Corr, Higgins, Connolly, Keogh, Smith.

Booked: Foran, Craigan.

Goals: Scott McDonald 88, 90.

Celtic Douglas, Agathe, Balde, Varga, McNamara, Petrov, Lennon, Sutton, Thompson, Hartson (Beattie 75), Bellamy.

Subs Not Used: Valgaeren, Lambert, Laursen, Marshall, Maloney, McGeady.

Booked: Bellamy.

Goals: Sutton 29.

Att: 12,944

Ref: H Dallas (Scotland).