Just when it looked as Motherwell would avenge their Betfred Cup Final defeat and end Celtic’s Invincible run, up stepped Fir Park’s public enemy number one Sinclair to slot home an 88th-minute penalty.
Just like at Hampden it was another controversial decision as Andy Rose was penalised by referee Willie Collum when Callum McGregor hit the deck. Well, who were leading through a Mikael Lustig own-goal, were furious but sub Sinclair kept his cool to slot home the spot-kick.
Well took the lead with 12 minutes remaining and Trevor Carson heroics in goal had them on course for a famous win but Sinclair ensured Celtic made it 66 domestic games unbeaten.
This was part two of this week’s treble between Motherwell and Celtic.
The Hoops won the first meeting and Brendan Rodgers opted to take Sinclair – the centre of a diving storm in Sunday’s Betfred Cup Final victory – out of the firing line.
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The winger was left on the bench, with Patrick Roberts coming into the starting line-up. Leigh Griffiths also started, with Moussa Dembele ruled out with an ankle injury.
Motherwell made three changes, with Elliott Frear, Allan Campbell and Deimantas Petravicius coming in for Rose, Ryan Bowman and Liam Grimshaw.
Motherwell made their intentions clear right from the start, with Cedric Kipre fouling James Forrest, Louis Moult bundling Dedryck Boyata to the ground and then Petravicius dumping Kieran Tierney to the deck.
The Steelmen had an early chance but Carl McHugh looped a header from a Chris Cadden corner over the bar.
Celtic then threatened as McGregor robbed Campbell and they broke at speed with an attack that ended with Griffiths’ shot deflected just wide.
The Hoops suffered an injury blow after just 11 minutes as Roberts pulled up after trying to jink past a couple of Well defenders.
The winger had only recently returned from a hamstring injury and immediately knew his night was over as he signalled to the bench.
Rogic came on in his place and the Aussie started an attack with a glorious crossfield pass to Griffiths, who popped it into McGregor and his fierce drive was beaten away by Trevor Carson and the midfielder sent the rebound wide.
Stuart Armstrong was fortunate to not to be booked for hauling back Cadden as Well sprung a counter-attack from a Celtic corner.
Right on half-time a wonderful Celtic one-touch passing move involving Rogic, McGregor and Tierney cut open the Well defence but Carson pulled off a wonder stop to deny the left-back.
Celtic started the second half on the front foot as Kipre swiped and missed a Tierney cross but first Griffiths and Forrest had efforts blocked, then when the ball was played back out to Tierney he fizzed a drive across the face of goal.
Carson then pulled off another fine stop as he turned McGregor’s low drive round the post.
Motherwell then had a chance as Craig Gordon took a poor touch and scuffed a clearance to Cadden, whose cross was gathered by Louis Moult but was unable to get his volley on target.
Motherwell sub Craig Tanner had a great chance moments after coming on but he got his header all wrong from Richard Tait’s cross.
Sinclair was introduced after 72 minutes to jeers from the home support as he replaced Armstrong.
With 12 minutes remaining Motherwell edged ahead as Tanner’s inswinging free-kick, after Brown fouled Ryan Bowman, came off Lustig and flew past Gordon. Suddenly Celtic’s unbeaten run was under serious threat.
Well’s luck looked in as Rogic’s shot hit post and fell into Carson’s arms.
But Carson’s fortune came to a crushing end after he saved brilliantly from McGregor, but the midfielder was tumbled in the box by Rose and referee Collum pointed to the spot. Up stepped Sinclair to clinically score.
Rodgers was adamant the spot-kick that kept his side’s unbeaten run going was the correct decision and praised Sinclair for slotting it away.
Rodgers said: “The referee was in the perfect position to give it and I thought it was a penalty.
“To take a penalty in that situation – I’ve seen Scott do it in front of 90,000 at Wembley – he’s so calm and composed, I would back him to score.
“We didn’t take our chances and then all of a sudden we go behind but the response of the team really showed our spirit. I know there’s goals in this team.”
Well midfielder Rose insists ref Collum got the key decision wrong.
Rose said: “When the referee blew the whistle, I was shocked. It was definitely not a penalty.
“It’s really soft. It’s happened to us twice in a week. There was no intent from me to bring the player down.”