Celtic returned to the top of the Scottish Premiership table with a solid win over Motherwell at Fir Park.

Lennon Miller hit the woodwork twice to scare the visitors, before Luke McCowan steered in the opener.

The former Dundee man replaced Callum McGregor in the midfield - the captain rested following an abductor complaint - with Alistair Johnston wearing the armband in his place.

The stand-in skipper rose to the occasion, ghosting in at the back post to guide in Celtic's second.

Brendan Rodgers' side continued to press, with substitutes Nicholas Kuhn and Adam Idah combining and the latter finishing for the third.

Motherwell ended with 10 players following a late Liam Gordon red card.

The Fir Park side are fifth, two points off Dundee United, while Celtic once again lead Aberdeen on goal difference.

Celtic host Dundee on Wednesday, when Motherwell visit Dundee United (both 19:45 GMT).

After the intensity of Wednesday's 0-0 Champions League draw away to Atalanta, the last thing Celtic wanted was Motherwell to fly out the traps - but that's just what they did.

Teen sensation Miller hit the post with goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel in no man's land, before curling a free-kick on to the crossbar two minutes later.

However, Celtic soon matched their hosts' tempo, creating plenty down the right with James Forrest and Johnston on fine form - but it was deputising McCowan who broke the deadlock.

Taking one touch to get away from Kofi Balmer, he was not closed down and on the edge of the box managed to roll the ball into the bottom corner.

That settled any nerves that Motherwell had created and the hosts struggled to really threaten Celtic's goal again.

Some courageous home defending, and some decent stops from Aston Oxborough, meant the second goal did not come until the hour mark when Alex Valle's brilliant cross was met by Johnston and the full-back guided his header in.

The strength of Celtic's bench was notable and it was two subs who combined for the third. Idah, who had already hit the post, swept in a Kuhn cutback and the game was sealed.

Motherwell's misery was further compounded when Gordon was sent off following a VAR check in added time. The home skipper could have no complaints - his studs-up tackle on Idah merited red.

After that opening 20 minutes, it was a vintage Celtic performance at a potentially tricky venue.

Their last meeting at Fir Park in February finished 3-1 after two goals in added time. The two games before that were both 2-1 - both featuring late Celtic goals to win.

This time, they did not need to wait as long. Their persistent passing play wore Motherwell down, despite the loss of McGregor in midfield.

It was a full team performance. McCowan impressed, as did Valle and Johnston at full-back and Forrest, who looked back to his best on the wing.

There was also a confidence in defence - merited after the clean sheet against Atalanta - that meant once they weathered the storm and looked unlikely to concede.

The start that Motherwell made must have thrilled and frustrated Stuart Kettlewell. Two shots off the woodwork and a few dangerous corners that caused chaos - Celtic may not have been rattled but were not far off it.

When Motherwell's dam broke, it was no surprise. The midfield and defence had pulled apart and by the end they were being toyed with by Celtic.

Balmer and Marvin Kaleta were new into the Motherwell side and perhaps it was too tall an order for them to slot straight in. Up top, the new forwards are yet to start firing and there's perhaps too much reliance on 18-year-old Miller to score.

In reality, any points would have been a bonus and they will move on to Tannadice undeterred.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "They're a well-organised team. First half, the moments we were good was when we were switching the play. Against their system, it's important to keep doing that.

"In the early stages, we trapped ourselves. The spaces started to open up and that's where the first goal came from. Second half was about managing the ball better. The players were excellent."

Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell: "I was desperately wanting us to put aside how we performed last week and I thought in the opening quarter we were excellent.

"We were really disciplined without the ball and Celtic didn't really have much in the game in the way of chances, I thought we by far had the best opportunities.

"I think it's a lesson that you have to capitalise on those opportunities. Lennon Miller will be disappointed with the chances he missed but I thought he was terrific again."