History at Hampden is taking on a familiar cue for Celtic.

Brendan Rodgers became the only Parkhead manager to win the first four consecutive domestic trophies in his tenure yesterday afternoon as Celtic enjoyed a successful defence of the Betfred League Cup, the first piece of silverware Rodgers claimed as Hoops manager 12 months ago.

The Celtic manager is the first Parkhead manager to win four on the bounce since Jock Stein claimed five between 1968 and 1970.

Second-half goals from James Forrest and a Moussa Dembele penalty ensured that Celtic retained the trophy.

Read more: Neil Cameron: Celtic are invincible and untouchable - but Motherwell are right to feel hard done by

Life in the Champions League may offer a buffer to the plain sailing of domestic life, but on this evidence there is little chance of rain on Rodgers’ parade any time soon.

By the time Scott Sinclair took a tumble under a soft tug of his arm from Cedric Kipre in the Motherwell box just before the hour mark, there was a feeling that the Fir Park defender’s afternoon had gone on substantially longer than it might have.

If the red card seemed harsh for the incident with Sinclair, one can only assume that Craig Thomson’s half-time viewing had taken in the eye-watering lunge over the ball and into the ankle of Dembele while the game was still in its infancy.

Whether that influenced his thinking or not, there was little doubting the effect the call had on the balance of the game.

Read more: Celtic's Scott Sinclair ignores the controversy and declares: It was definitely a penalty​

By the time Dembele calmly dispatched his effort straight down the middle of the goal, the green and white ribbons were all but on the Betfred Cup. Motherwell, with ten men, were never likely to breach what immediately took on the complexion of an unassailable two-goal lead.

Forrest’s strike that broke the deadlock shortly after the restart was the moment that the loose thread was tugged and Motherwell’s game plan began to unravel.

The holes it left played directly into the hands of Celtic who had endured a frustrating first period trying to open up the Fir Park side.

Playing much of the second period with ten men, Motherwell inevitably spent much of their time chasing shadows.

Substitutes Leigh Griffiths and Patrick Roberts added to their woes. The quick, impish feet of Roberts repeatedly had the Motherwell defence dragged all over the place with the winger’s frequent incursions causing all manner of problems.

Read more: Brendan Rodgers: Cup final ref got the penalty decision spot on - Celtic winger Scott Sinclair WAS impeded​

Similarly, Griffiths smacked a post with a free-kick as further goals seemed likely.

It was in sharp contrast to the opening period in which Motherwell worked to restrict the space that Celtic could work in.

It was a game plan that proved successful but there was always a feeling that if and when the first goal arrived, their plan would fold.

The sense of the Fir Park side having cause to question what might have been was amplified by a close range Louis Moult header that brought out a fine one-handed reflex save from Craig Gordon almost immediately after Forrest had given Celtic the lead.

There was a feeling that the tone of the game could have been set with Kipre’s challenge on Dembele in the early stages. The defender escaped sanction at that point for the infringement – Dembele went into the book minutes after when he extracted his own revenge on Carl McHugh – but in truth it was a relatively staid opening half.

Kieran Tierney saw a lot of the ball on the left-hand side but although he and Sinclair linked well, there was little end product that caused much consternation in the Fir Park defence.

Read more: Stephen Robinson: Ref's decisions ended Motherwell's hopes of beating Celtic - and there was no contact​

Demble incurred the wrath of Rodgers at one point when, just inside his own half and in front of the Celtic dug-out, he headed the ball back towards his own goal and gifted possession to Motherwell.

It came to nothing but Rodgers was quick to vent his exasperation in a game which Celtic struggled to break down a resilient Motherwell side in those opening exchanges.

Moult has been in fine form this season bit the striker’s only real contribution of note in the opening period was a free-kick which sailed harmlessly over Gordon’s bar. Likewise, Richard Tait had a rasping, wild effort fly well beyond the reach of goal in an opening gambit that offered few moments of note.

Motherwell keeper Trevor Carson barely muddied his gloves in that half which would have made it a difficult one to take, then, when one of his opening tasks after the restart was to pick the ball out of his net.

Callum McGregor had ushered the ball into Forrest’s path and the Scotland internationalist dipped his shoulder before arching a left-foot effort beyond the reach of Carson to puncture a game plan that Motherwell had stuck to doggedly.

Still, though, they had an immediate chance to restore parity when Andy Rose’s delivery into the box was met by Moult. From close range his header was stopped by a fine one-handed save from Gordon.

The last kick of the game was a rasping set-piece that Motherwell cannoned off the woodwork.  It was the precursor for Celtic's celebrations to kick off as Motherwell's heads finally went down.