Neil Lennon responded to his midweek troubles in perfect fashion with his first goal for Celtic in an impressive 3-0 victory at East End Park.

Wonderful strikes from Stilian Petrov and Henrik Larsson gave the Parkhead side a daunting target for Dunfermline to catch by half-time.

And the Swede closed in on Brian McClair's 1986 SPL record of 35 goals in a season with his 32nd.

But the day belonged to Lennon, who is considering his future in international football after being subjected to abuse from a section of the Northern Ireland fans on Wednesday in their 4-0 home defeat to Norway.

The former Leicester City favourite, however, hit back in defiant style and his goal helped Martin O'Neill's men go 13 points clear of Rangers at the top of the SPL.

Dunfermline were desperate to put last week's 7-1 mauling at the hands of Hearts behind them as quickly as possible.

But the visitors had only 11 minutes to wait for their opener when Petrov played a superb one-two with Larsson before coolly slotting the ball past Marco Ruitenbeek.

The Swede almost bagged Celtic's second three minutes later when Tommy Johnson, who had just replaced the injured Chris Sutton, picked Larsson out at the back post and his right-foot volley flashed just past the post.

Sutton was taken on with shoulder ligament damage, but that did not effect them too much.

Before their goal, Celtic, with Joos Valgaeren back after injury for Tom Boyd, had looked on top of their game and Dunfermline goalkeeper Ruitenbeek was tested on a number of occasions while Larsson went close with a header.

Celtic went close again in the 21st minute when Lennon floated the ball into the box and Valgaeren headed on to Johan Mjallby, who headed just over the crossbar.

But Martin O'Neill's men did extend their lead in fantastic fashion when they were awarded a free-kick after Ian Ferguson had brought down Alan Thompson in the 26th minute.

Three Celtic players stood over the ball, but it was Larsson who hit an unstoppable right-foot screamer into the top corner - giving Ruitenbeek no chance from just outside the area.

Lennon was given a great reception by the travelling Celtic support, but former Rangers star Ferguson was having to put up with a torrent of abuse.

The Dunfermline midfielder was lucky not to go into the book in the 31st minute for a foul on Didier Agathe and then kicking the ball away, but referee Hugh Dallas let him off the hook.

His team-mate and former Ibrox man Barry Nicholson was not so fortunate and he was shown the yellow card for another foul on Agathe.

Larsson came close again in the 40th minute when he took Thompson's pass in his stride before firing on goal, but Ruitenbeek got down to his left to deny the Swede.

Dunfermline changed Chris McGroarty for Marinus Dijkhuizen at the break and came out fighting in the second half.

In the 50th minute Lennon did well to pressure David Moss, who had burst into the area, and Douglas had to come off his line to deny the Dunfermline man.

But Larsson proved that he was human after all in the 57th minute when Paul Lambert played the striker through on goal - but he screwed his effort harmlessly across the face of goal.

Lennon was again involved in Celtic's next move moments later when he found Thompson down the left flank, and the midfielder's dangerous cross was put just past the post by home defender Andrius Skerla with Larsson waiting to pounce.

Ferguson did deservedly go in the book in the in the 61st minute for a rash tackle on Petrov.

But the home side refused to lie down, and Agathe had to head clear after Jason Dair had crossed to Ferguson.

Celtic continued to press for another goal and the home side had Scott Thompson to thank for keeping them in the game when he cleared Johnson's pin-point header off the line in the 72nd minute.

Dunfermline manager Jimmy Calderwood spared Ferguson any further misery when he brought him off in the 75th minute and replaced him with Andy Tod.

Two minutes later and Lennon's time was to come when Johnson's header from Thompson's corner came back off the upright and the midfielder steered his shot past the hand of Ruitenbeek.

Lennon showed his relief with his celebrations and was given a celebratory hug from assistant manager John Robertson and his team-mates on the touchline.

He completed a great day with his substitution late on and the green and white army showed him just what he meant to them.

Teams:

Dunfermline: Ruitenbeek, Skinner, Skerla, Rossi, Dair, Nicholson, Ferguson (Tod 75), Moss (Hampshire 69), Scott Thomson, Crawford, Dijkhuizen (McGroarty 45).

Subs Not Used: Scott Y Thomson, Doesburg.

Booked: Nicholson, Ferguson.

Celtic: Douglas, Mjallby, Vega, Valgaeren, Petrov, Agathe, Lennon (Crainey 82), Lambert, Thompson, Larsson, Sutton (Johnson 13).

Subs Not Used: Gould, Boyd, Moravcik.

Goals: Petrov 11, Larsson 25, Lennon 77.

Att: 9,096

Ref: H Dallas (Scotland).