SO, do we have a Premiership title race after all?

And is Ronny Deila’s position, which had seemed to be secure despite Celtic’s assorted disappointments and failures in Europe this season, really so safe?

If Celtic, deservedly beaten by an outstanding Motherwell side yesterday, acquit themselves so poorly in the second half of the season then they will not, as many had envisaged, stroll to their fifth consecutive title.

Their manager, too, will come under increased pressure and scrutiny if they play so badly again. He certainly had a few choice words aimed in his vicinity by disgruntled supporters as they filed out of Parkhead last night.

The dramatic slump in form by Aberdeen after their record-breaking eight game winning start to the league appeared to have ended their challenge.

The Pittodrie club, who had held a five point advantage at the top of the table at one stage, fell seven points adrift of the leaders after losses to Celtic, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, St. Johnstone and Ross County.

Yet, today Derek McInnes’s side, emphatic 4-0 victors over Kilmarnock away at Rugby Park yesterday, find themselves just a point behind.

Aberdeen have played a game more. Still, it is a far from comfortable position for the defending champions, who were fortunate just to lose by a single goal against opponents who created far better scoring chances, to be in.

If Marvin Johnson and Lionel Ainsworth had exhibited greater composure in the final third the margin of victory for the visitors would have been far greater.

“It is fantastic going into Christmas and getting a result like this,” said Motherwell manager Mark McGhee. “It is great for everyone. But we are trying to keep a bit of a lid on it. It is just one result. It is a great result, but we have got a long way to go.

“It was a great performance today and I think we thoroughly deserved to win. It is one in a sequence of three performances now and I think we are starting to see a bit of consistency. But come here and win is always a bonus because it’s a difficult place to play.”

Celtic had taken the lead early in the second half after Tom Rogic skipped past Ben Hall on the left flank and cut the ball back to Nir Bitton on the edge of the Motherwell area.

The Israeli internationalist kept his shot down well, but it was deflected into the net by Stevie Hammell as the Motherwell defender attempted in vain to clear it.

Celtic’s lead, though, only lasted four minutes. Their rivals drew level with a well-worked move which cut open their defence open.

Scott McDonald fed Marvin Johnson on the left and he squared a low ball to Louis Moult inside the six yard box. The striker converted from close range before reeling away to celebrate with his side’s delighted supporters.

Moult put his side in front six minutes later after Jozo Simunovic had clumsily tripped McDonald inside his own box. Referee Bobby Madden correctly awarded Motherwell and penalty and their striker sent Celtic keeper Craig Gordon the wrong way from the spot.

Deila threw on Scott Allan for the ineffectual James Forrest and Carlton Cole for Rogic in an attempt to get his side back into the game. Cole was involved in a clash of heads with Stephen McManus shortly after coming on and his opponent came off worst from the challenge.

Rather than tell the dazed defender he was Franco Baresi and send him back on, McGhee removed him from the field of play and brought on Louis Laing in his place. He endured a few anxious moments as Celtic pushed for an equaliser in the final moments of the match.

“There were a lot of balls up to the Motherwell box,” he said. “By that time Mick had gone off and there was obviously a bit of concern.

"But we defended as a team. I actually thought two of our most important defenders today were our strikers. When we didn’t have the ball they were terrific.

“Everybody defended when they needed to and we attacked with common sense away from home on the counter, particularly in the second half, and created chances.

“Mick was desperate to go back on, but we weren’t going to allow that. Clearly, even just for a second or two, he looked as if he was sparkled. But, of course, Mick’s character as such that he wanted to go back on.”

Playing on despite being injured is something Billy McNeill, who unveiled a magnificent bronze statue of himself at the start of the Celtic Way in a well-attended ceremony before kick-off, did on numerous occasions during his long and illustrious career.

The great man, who watched the action unfold in the stands with his family and former team mates, would have approved of McManus’s selfless attitude. He would not, however, have been impressed with a flat and inept display from the Scottish champions.