As the Clydesdale Bank Premier League champions trailed to a first-half goal by Simon Lappin, a chorus of boos rang around Celtic Park on the hour mark as top scorer McDonald was substituted and replaced by Georgios Samaras.

The former 'Well frontman fumed in the dugout and had words with all and sundry before watching Celtic fail to equalise against the Fir Park side who were reduced to 10 men just after the break when Bob Malcolm was red-carded for a lunge at Massimo Donati.

"There's nothing I can do about the crowd's reaction. I was trying to win the game," Strachan said.

"There are more important things than Scott's reaction but he has apologised to me and his team-mates and that says it all.

"He knows he was in the wrong, so he has apologised, but it is a small thing in comparison to getting beaten by Motherwell when you are wanting to win the championship."

Strachan said last week that eight wins out of eight were needed for Celtic to retain the title, but the shock defeat by Motherwell leaves his side six points behind leaders Rangers and the Ibrox side have two games in hand.

The Celtic boss understandably back-tracked slightly, saying: "It's going to be near-impossible but we will keep plugging away.

"I said we couldn't afford to lose any more points but my opinion has been wrong on a couple of things, as has been pointed out now and then.

"So if my opinion is wrong this time, I will be delighted.

"That encapsulated the last few months for us, we made chances but couldn't score and when we need a clean sheet, we don't get one.

"So that is my concern."

Motherwell moved to third place in the table and manager Mark McGhee had no compunction pouring more misery on his good friend Strachan who was subject to some vitriolic abuse by a section of the home support.

"If Celtic don't win the league, it won't be because they lost to Motherwell, it will be because of a combination of results, McGhee said.

"We are entitled to come here and try to win and not worry too much.

"Gordon would not have worried when they beat us earlier in the season.

"Listen, I'm a Celtic supporter and when it comes down to who wins the league, Celtic or Rangers, then my loyalties are with Celtic.

"We took two points off Rangers earlier in the season.

"So Walter Smith and Ally McCoist have to see us coming to Celtic Park to do our best to beat Celtic, supporter or not.

"It's important to be able to look them in the eye.

"It was a huge result for me. It is the first time that I have come to Celtic Park as a manager and got a victory.

"It didn't surprise me that we dug in for the victory, we have shown character all season.

"It keeps us in contention for third spot."

McGhee was initially raging at the dismissal of Malcolm but was more considered afterwards.

He said: "When you are 1-0 up at Celtic and lose a player then you are always incensed.

"There was no malice in the tackle but he missed the ball and it could have been deemed dangerous so I have no arguments."

Motherwell will fly out for a sunshine break to Malaga next week and McGhee admitted there might not be as much training done as he had planned.

He said: "I told the players before the game that if they won then we would let them play golf every day, so they were quick to remind me of that in the dressing room afterwards."

Lappin, who scored his first goal for the club since arriving on loan from Norwich in January, added: "I was delighted with the goal but the most important thing was getting the points.

"I knew it wasn't going to be Celtic's day when the final whistle went.

"You know you will be under pressure coming to Celtic Park but we are delighted to get three points."