Celtic and Motherwell are preparing to lock horns for the third time in less than a week on Saturday in a potentially powder-keg encounter following two controversial penalty calls that went the way of the Scottish champions.

A disputed penalty earned by Scott Sinclair in Celtic's 2-0 win over Motherwell in Sunday's League Cup final ratched up tensions for Wednesday's reunion at Fir Park, where the Steelmen looked on course for revenge when Mikael Lustig's own goal gave them the lead late on.

However, with the Hoops' 65-match unbeaten run seemingly set to come to an end, the Glasgow giants were awarded another contentious spot-kick two minutes from time after Callum McGregor went down in the box under a challenge from Andy Rose.

And it was Sinclair, subject to abuse from the home support for his part in Sunday's spot-kick, who expertly dispatched his penalty to earn his side a draw -- much to the anger of the home side.

"It wasn't a penalty. I've seen it back. I've planted my leg and he's ran into me and flopped over," said Motherwell defender Rose.

"Clearly he has played for it. He's gone down, it's really soft, and it's happened to us twice in a week now. When the referee blew his whistle I was shocked. I really was."

However, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers was quick to dismiss the protests and defended his players by insisting both penalty decisions were correct.

And the former Liverpool boss stoked the tensions between the clubs by saying the Fir Park side seem to be furious about every decision given against them.

"They have been angry with a lot since Sunday, they seem to be angry with everything," the Northern Irishman said.

"Again, their keeper made a great save, we should have finished it, the ball rebounds out, the player makes an attempt to get the ball, Callum steps in front, gets his body there and he knocks him over.

"And if you look at the referee's decision, he is in the perfect position to give it so yes, I thought it was a penalty. Of course when you are the opposition, you probably think it's not."

Rodgers' side could open up a seven-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership with victory against Motherwell on Saturday, 24 hours before second-place Aberdeen host Rangers at Pittodrie.

The Gers, with interim manager Graeme Murty in charge, ended a run of two successive defeats as they claimed a 3-0 victory over the Dons on Wednesday.

The Ibrox club could now leapfrog Aberdeen into second if they can claim victory in the reverse fixture on Sunday.