This second chapter of the Celtic-Motherwell trilogy belonged to familiar characters.

Scott Sinclair, in the eye of a storm this week, came off the bench at Fir Park to rescue Celtic’s unbeaten domestic record that was just minutes away from crumbling against Motherwell.

With the hosts leading through an own-goal netted by the boot of Mikael Lustig just 12 minutes from time, Sinclair stole the show again with a last gasp penalty that stretched Celtic’s run to 66 consecutive domestic games without defeat.

Read more: Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers insists referee Willie Collum called penalty right at Fir Park

Booed onto the park as he started his warm-up on the touchline to replace Stuart Armstrong, the stage inevitably seemed set for Sinclair as Celtic chased this game.

Callum McGregor was bundled over the box by Well substitute Andy Rose as he chased a lost cause and from the moment Willie Collum’s whistle blew, Sinclair had the ball under his arm and was hovering over the spot.

Panto season after all but as the boos and jeers resounded around Fir Park, Sinclair kept his nerve to sink the leveller.

In fairness a draw was probably the most equitable outcome of a game that Celtic dominated in large spells but toiled for genuine openings, particularly in the opening half.

While Celtic would have been delighted to keep the run going – losing it to a sclaffed og would have been a bitter one to take for Brendan Rodgers’ side – more ominously was an early injury to Patrick Roberts.

The English winger was forced off after just 10 minutes with what appeared to be a recurrence of a hamstring injury with the likelihood being that he will be a doubt for Tuesday’s conclusive Champions League game against Anderlecht.

Read more: Motherwell's Andy Rose accuses Celtic's Callum McGregor of "flopping over" to win late penalty

With Moussa Dembele out too after feeling the full weight of Cedric Kipre on Sunday, the injury list may prove to be a headache yet again this season.

Although there was a controversial end to the game with Motherwell bitterly refuting the penalty call, Collum had seemed at pains to keep his cards in his pocket in a needly opening period.

Kipre sent James Forrest skyward with a late lunge on the player before Louis Moult did the same to Dedryck Boyata. Kieran Tierney was clipped by Deimanatas Petravicius while Stuart Armstrong also had a late one on Chris Cadden but Collum was content to lecture and remonstrate rather than flash his cards.

It was a relatively staid opening period on the crisp Fir Park turf as temperatures sat just at freezing point.

Callum McGregor, one of Celtic’s most consistent players in recent months, had one rasping drive blocked by Trevor Carson while his rebound was hit just wide.

Not that Motherwell were camped inside their own half.

Cadden’s corner was met by Carl McHugh who headed onto the rook of Craig Gordon’s net.

Read more: Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers insists referee Willie Collum called penalty right at Fir Park

The finest save and chance of the game, though, came on the cusp of the half-time whistle.

As Celtic found some of their fluency Rogic, who took over from Roberts, supplied Griffiths who played the ball swiftly to the feet of Tierney who scampered through on goal. With just the keeper to beat, the defender looked to have picked his spot only to look on his disbelief as Carson produced a cracking block to keep the scores level going into the break.

Just as they had on Sunday at Hampden, Celtic began the game with the bit between their teeth with the ball getting caught just under the studs of Griffiths in the six-yard box, while Forrest had a rasping effort blocked too.

Allan Campbell was the first name into the book for a two-armed rugby pull on Armstrong in the middle of the park as the midfielder threatened to show him a clean pair of heels.

As Celtic lifted the tempt, Carson was called into action again. Rogic’s surging run forward picked out McGregor to his left and the player’s long range effort was tipped around the post by the Motherwell keeper.

At the other end, though, Gordon’s sclaffed clearance gifted possession to Cadden who lifted the ball into the box. Moult took a touch on his chest and, surrounded by hooped jerseys, still managed to get his shot away.

To Gordon’s relief the effort skimmed just over the bar.

Read more: Motherwell's Andy Rose accuses Celtic's Callum McGregor of "flopping over" to win late penalty

McGregor then looked certain to finally inject the game with a goal. As he burst forward into the box, though, he raked his effort just wide.

Griffiths, too, tried his luck with the outside of his boot only to watch as his effort arched wide of the target.

It was Motherwell, though, who had a cracking chance to steal a goal when Craig Tanner, just on the pitch, found himself in time and space to meet a Richard Tait cross only to head wide.

Sinclair arrived to take over from Armstrong but the moment belonged to Motherwell.

Brown was irked at being penalised for a foul on Ryan Bowman but their irritation grew significantly. Both Lustig and Boyata went for Tanner’s effort with the ball coming off of the Swede and wrong-footing Gordon.

If Celtic thought it wasn’t go to be their net, the fears grew when Rogic struck the post with the ball rebounding directly into Carson’s hands.

As McGregor tried to harry a chance as the minutes ticked down and the run looked to be coming to a close, Sinclair kept his composure to silence his dissenters – and enjoy his celebrations.