Motherwell fell to their sixth defeat in seven matches as Celtic ran out winners against them for the third time this season.
Strikes from Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda in either half did the damage for the Hoops before the Steelmen netted what proved to be a late consolation through Ross Tierney.
More concerning than the defeat, however, will be injuries to star striker Kevin van Veen, winger Stuart McKinstry and centre-back Bevis Mugabi, who were also forced off in the first 55 minutes.
And that is set to have Hammell sweating on their fitness for Saturday's clash at St Johnstone.
Motherwell remain ninth in the Premiership after the result, which was their fifth home defeat on the spin.
The Steelmen made three changes from Sunday's 3-2 defeat to 10-man Hearts. Defender Paul McGinn was already ruled out prior to kick-off after picking up an injury in the capital clash last week.
Stephen O'Donnell replaced him at the weekend and he get the nod at right-back, with Mugabi coming in at the expense of Sondre Solholm in central defence. Connor Shields also dropped to the bench, with Dean Cornelius getting a start.
Louis Moult, who netted his first goal since his return to the club during Sunday's defeat, started on the bench.
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou also rung the changes with six alterations to his side. In came Greg Taylor, Josip Juranovic, Carl Starfelt, Aaron Mooy, Liel Abada and Kyogo, and out went former Motherwell man David Turnbull, Anthony Ralston, Giorgos Giakoumakis, Moritz Jenz, Alexander Bernabei and Sead Haksabanovic.
Just three minutes in Motherwell had a golden opportunity to open the scoring when O'Donnell stole possession from Starfelt and slipped Kevin van Veen through on goal. The Dutchman showed great composure to go round Joe Hart, but his effort from a tight angle cannoned back off the post and Celtic escaped punishment.
And that came back to haunt them as the Hoops broke the deadlock after pinching possesion themselves.
Callum Slattery looked set to clear the ball inside the Motherwell penalty area but Matt O'Riley picked his pocket with a perfectly-time challenge, before crossing for Kyogo to slot his 11th goal of the season past Liam Kelly from close range.
Motherwell were dealt another blow soon after when Bevis Mugabi went down awkwardly after a clash with Mooy and had to be replaced by Solholm after 21 minutes.
Slattery almost redeemed himself in the 36th minute when a loose kick from Joe Hart fell straight at his feet. He tried to lob the Hoops keeper from inside his own half but his effort drifted wide.
Celtic continued to control proceedings though and up the other end, Ricki Lamie prevented Kyogo from turning in a rebound from Jota's strike, and then Kelly got just enough on a delivery from Mooy across the face of goal to divert it away from the incoming green and white jerseys at the back post.
Just before half-time a perfectly timed challenge from O'Donnell denied Hatate getting in. It appeared that Hatate had a kick out at O'Donnell after the challenge but, after a VAR check referee, Willie Collum ruled there was nothing doing.
During the interval Hammell had to turn to his bench again with van Veen coming off injured to be replaced by Connor Shields, as they looked for a spark to get them back into the game.
The injuries continued to rack up for Motherwell as Stuart McKinstry became the latest player to hobble off, with Josh Morris coming on in his place after 54 minutes to add to an already lengthy injury list at Fir Park.
In the 59th minute it looked like Celtic had doubled their advantage when Jota's delightful chip over Kelly found the ball of the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside following a VAR check.
Louis Moult and Ross Tierney were introduced in the aftermath of that decision with the Steelmen still very much In the game.
But chances were proving few and far between with the visitors continuing to dictate the play.
In the 76th minute Celtic had the chance to seal the points when a cross from outwide was fired towards the back post. Lamie got a vital nick on the ball to do just enough to put off Giakoumakis, who scooped the ball over the bar from close range.
Moments later Motherwell's substitutes combined as a downward header from Moult after a Shields cross bounced agonisingly over the bar, as the Hoops were reminded the Hoops they were still very much in a game.
Six minutes from time Celtic did get their second goal when Maeda drilled a low strike past Kelly after getting on the end of David Turnbull's through ball.
Motherwell found an immediate response to pull one back two minutes later when Tierney fired home from Slattery's assist. The goal was subject to a VAR check, but Tierney's effort stood.
However, there was to be no more late drama as Celtic held out to maintain their seven point lead at the top of the Premiership.
The Steelmen are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Perth to face St Johnstone.
MOTHERWELL: Kelly, O'Donnell, Mugabi (Solholm 21), Lamie, Penney, Goss, Slattery, Spittal (Moult 60), Cornelius (Tierney 60), McKinstry (Morris 55), van Veen (Shields 46)
Scorers: Tierney 86
Bookings: Moult, McKinstry
Subs not used: Oxborough, Maguire, Miller, Ferrie.
CELTIC: Hart, Juranovic, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Taylor, O'Riley, Hatate (Turnbull 69), Mooy (Abildgaard 79), Abada (Haksabanovic 60), Jota (Maeda 79), Kyogo (Giakoumakis 69).
Scorers: Kyogo 15, Maeda 84
Bookings: Kyogo
Subs not used: Siegrist, Jenz, Forrest, Ralston.
Ref: Willie Collum
HT: 0-1
Att: 8,352
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