A much-changed Motherwell side suffered defeat in Glasgow on Wednesday night, going down 3-0 at Celtic.
First half goals from Anthony Ralston, Scott Sinclair and Mikey Johnston did the damage, as the Steelmen lost the first game in a busy 11 day and four-match period.
Stephen Robinson made five changes from the side which ended St Johnstone’s long unbeaten run at the weekend.
Andy Rose, Alex Rodriguez Gorrín, Gaël Bigirimana, Ryan Bowman and Conor Sammon all came in. Christian Mbulu, David Turnbull, Allan Campbell, Danny Johnson and Curtis Main all dropped out.
Celtic made just one change from the team which lost at Hibernian on Sunday, with Anthony Ralston replacing Mikael Lustig at right back.
Sammon was presented with the first main chance, as a long driven ball from McHugh found him in behind the Celtic defence.
Gordon rushed out to deal with it but it looked for a second like the Irishman might just beat him to it to clip the ball home, but the goalkeeper cleared up.
Ntcham was next to try his luck from the edge of the area, but his shot was deflected marginally past the post by Aldred, as Gillespie dived in vain to make the save.
Gillespie did make a crucial intervention as the first half reached its halfway point. A slack pass backwards played in Sinclair, who was immediately swarmed by claret shirts.
The winger managed to get a near post shot away, which the ‘keeper did well to turn away with his feet.
With Motherwell keeping the shape well, they were to be undone minutes later. Edouard slipped through Ralston, with the right back managing to sneak in behind Dunne and steer the ball under Gillespie and in.
Soon after, it was two. Dunne clattered Forrest wide in the box, leaving Bobby Madden with no option but to point to the spot.
Sinclair stepped up against a goalkeeper who had saved two from his last two penalties, but the Englishman found the bottom left corner, with Gillespie inches from getting his hand on it.
The visitors struggled to stem the tide, and they would go three behind before the break. Youngster Johnston, on as a substitute, hit a dipping shot which beat the Motherwell keeper all ends up and found the net via the underside of the crossbar.
Campbell and Taylor-Sinclair replaced Bigirimana and Bowman at the interval, as manager Robinson changed shape and looked to get a foothold back in the match.
A tepid second half saw both sides have one or two half chances, with Motherwell finding some joy higher up the pitch and growing in confidence on the ball, but couldn’t make a telling impact.
