Celtic 1 Motherwell 0:CELTIC WENT top of the table with a narrow win over Motherwell at Parkhead but skipper Scott Brown was sent off late on and will miss Sunday's Old Firm game at Ibrox.
Paddy McCourt’s first-half strike separated the sides but the Hoops should have had at least another three in a one-sided first half.
Celtic looked less impressive after the break but while they never looked like losing they received a late blow in the 89th minute when Brown, just back in the team after a lengthy injury and booked earlier for a foul on Chris Humphrey, received a second yellow for a foul on Stevie Hammell.
Celtic are now one point clear of Rangers, albeit having played two games more than the champions.
For their part, Motherwell, expected to confirm Stuart McCall as their new manager in the morning, were poor again and will need some reorganising by the former Scotland international.
Lennon rang the changes for the visit of the Fir Park men.
With Ki Sung-yueng and Cha Du-Ri away at the Asian Cup with South Korea, Olivier Kapo made his first start for Celtic with James Forrest, Joe Ledley, Mark Wilson and Anthony Stokes also coming in to the starting line-up.
The visitors showed one change to the side which lost 4-1 at home to Rangers at the weekend with caretaker boss Gordon Young bringing in Marc Fitzpatrick for Nick Blackman, who dropped to the bench.
Celtic defender Emilio Izaguirre had a great chance in the second minute when ’Well keeper Darren Randolph spilled a low Ledley drive. However, despite facing an open goal less than six yards out, the Honduran left-back somehow blasted over the bar.
The visitors were under siege as Celtic swarmed around their box.
Kapo had the ball in the net in the 12th minute only to be ruled offside, seconds before McCourt headed a Forrest cross wide.
Motherwell looked bereft of hope, belief and confidence and it was not surprise when, in the 27th minute, Celtic took the lead with the inspirational McCourt breaking the deadlock.
After yet another Hoops corner the Northern Ireland international took a pass from Wilson, drifted in to the box and curled a right-footed shot from 16 yards in to the far corner past Randolph.
Six minutes later Ledley was sent clear by Stokes and his low left-footed shot from 16 yards sped past Randolph but also the far post. Kapo was replaced by Daryl Murphy in the 38th minute but Celtic cruised to the half-time whistle in complete control.
But in the 51st minute substitute Murphy limped off injured to be replaced by midfielder Beram Kayal. The change seemed to disrupt Lennon’s side and for the first time Motherwell began to string a few passes together.
In the 58th minute, as the home defence came under pressure, Fitzpatrick got on the end of a Chris Humphrey cross but failed to connect properly from six yards.
There were some nerves in the final stages and in the 89th minute Brown, booked earlier, was sent packing by referee Stephen Finnie after a challenge on Hammell.
CELTIC: Forster, Wilson, Rogne, Majstorovic, Izaguirre, Forrest (McGinn 88), Brown, Ledley, Kapo (Murphy 38), Stokes, McCourt, Murphy (Kayal 52). Subs not used: Zaluska, Crosas, Mulgrew, Towell. Booked: Majstorovic, Brown, Kayal.
MOTHERWELL: Randolph, Saunders, Reynolds, Craigan, Hammell, Humphrey, Lasley, Hateley, Gow, Fitzpatrick (Sutton 88), Murphy (Blackman 76). Subs not used: Hollis, McHugh, Forbes, Hutchinson, Pollock. Booked: Hateley, Lasley, Craigan.
Referee: S Finnie (Scotland).
