Celtic are top of the Scottish Premiership after beating Motherwell 1-0 at Fir Park, giving Mark McGhee a losing start on his return to the Steelmen.

The visitors opened the scoring after 15 minutes as Stuart Armstrong set up Kris Commons, whose effort was saved by Connor Ripley but rebounded to Nadir Ciftci, who slotted the ball home from close range.

Commons tested the Motherwell goal twice from set pieces, his first being well saved by Ripley and the second hitting the woodwork from distance.

After the break, Celtic had two penalty appeals turned down as Kieran Kennedy brought down Scott Brown in the box before Kennedy handled the ball, but neither were given by referee Alan Muir.

Motherwell looked for a route back into the game and Kennedy was involved again, but his shot was hit wide of Craig Gordan's goal.

It was Commons who would go close towards the end but the Scottish international hit his tame strike straight into the hands of Ripley.

The win lifts Celtic into first place for the first time this season, while Motherwell remain in ninth on 10 points.