Brendan Rodgers took a nine-point lead with the 1-1 draw, but the Rangers’ pursuers have played two games less.
Jon Obika’s latest equaliser stunned Celtic and Motherwell earned a well-deserved point against the champions.
The Fir Park striker came off the bench for an unlikely equaliser moments after David Turnbull’s penalty appeared to be the winner. Luis Palma missed an earlier attempt on the spot when a faded Celtic looked uninspired against a Fir Park side who defended as if their lives depended on it.
Rangers can now close the gap to six problems if they manage a win in Aberdeen tomorrow, with Celtic still a game in hand. An afternoon of few chances allowed the hosts to get off to a brilliant start. Matt O’Riley opted to pass when he found time and space in the Motherwell box in the fourth minute when the Hoops carried all the early threat. Denmark’s foreigner then registered the first shot on target when his effort was safely denied by Liam Kelly before Callum Slattery went into the book to strike for Odin Holm.
The hosts probably would have camped out in the Fir Park portion for a maximum of the first 20 minutes, but frustration was growing over the inability to get a deep defensive line.
The first goal almost came in the 21st minute, when Kelly rescued Stephen O’Donnell as he collected the full-back’s header that appeared to be headed towards the most sensitive corner, a surprising save from the Scotland international.
A rare Motherwell push towards the Celtic goal in the 33rd minute ended with the champions folding after Blair Spittal cut the ball out to Joe Hart, who had run from his line, and O’Donnell’s lofted effort went wide. the goal before Cameron Carter-Vickers left the line. .
That scare did nothing to increase the intensity of Celtic’s play as they looked for a first goal and the Parkhead natives were shaken by the lack of authentic creativity in the final third. O’Donnell was next to receive a limited-time caution and a feature of Motherwell’s technique that stoked the temper of the locals.