Henrik Larsson showed just why Martin O'Neill and Brian Quinn are
determined to keep him at Parkhead with a heaven-sent display at East End Park
as the champions moved to within two points of Rangers at the top of the
Scottish Premier League.
The Swedish international, whose contract expires at the end of next season,
set Celtic on the goal trail with a trademark finish for his 41st goal of the
season.
He then played an instrumental role in their second converted by Stilian
Petrov, who doubled his tally, before Larsson won the penalty for Alan Thompson
to score.
Bulgarian international Petrov also had a day to remember and he responded to
being dropped at Ibrox last week with a well-taken brace on his return to the
side.
Petrov came in with Shaun Maloney for the injured duo Chris Sutton and John
Hartson, who were hardly missed after Robert Douglas' accomplished replacement
Javier Sanchez Broto had came to their rescue with an impressive double save
early on.
The visitors' injury problems were nothing in comparison to the crisis facing
Dunfermline manager Jimmy Calderwood.
Andrius Skerla, Steven Hampshire and Chris McGarty joined the casualty list
and in came Scott Walker, Sean Kilgannon and Gary Dempsey to the starting XI
with teenagers Sean Murdoch and Ian Campbell - son of Brechin boss Dick - on the
bench.
But Celtic were on a high after their victory at Ibrox and man of the match
last week Ulrik Laursen almost fired the visitors into an early lead.
The Dunfermline defence were easily bypassed in the sixth minute as the Dane
and Bobo Balde exchanged passes inside the box.
Laursen had his best chance of opening his scoring account for Celtic, but
Marco Ruitenbeek raced off his line to make a brave save.
But at the other end Broto also produced heroics in the eight minute when he
pushed Dempsey's firmly-struck shot from the edge of the area away, from Stevie
Crawford's pass.
For the second time in a week Celtic manager O'Neill was forced to make an
early change when Joos Valgaeren came off to be replaced by Paul Lambert in the
10th minute.
But the visitors were starting to get on top of their opponents by forcing
three corners in the space of two minutes which were dealt with by some
desperate defending.
The final ball had let Celtic down so far, but it was Petrov's control which
prevented him from running on to Maloney's pass through the middle.
Despite the success of the 4-4-2 system last week O'Neill reverted to a more
customary 3-5-2 formation, but Broto again needed to save his side in the 17th
minute as the Celtic defence uncharacteristically failed to deal with a Pars
setpiece.
Kilgannon swung in a cross to the back post for Lee Bullen to direct the ball
across goal where Walker stooped to head, but the keeper stretched to turn his
effort away.
But UEFA Cup semi-final hero Larsson pounced to settle Celtic's nerves with a
well-taken goal in the 21st minute to back O'Neill's theory that he is
irreplaceable.
Petrov fired a first-time cross into the area where the Swede got ahead of
Jason Dair to prod the ball past Ruitenbeek and into the corner of the net.
And just eight minutes later the prolific striker turned provider when their
best move of the match brought their second goal.
Lambert's free-kick was chested into the path of Larsson by Balde. The Swede
then held up the ball before rolling it into the path of Petrov, who blasted an
unstoppable shot into the corner.
Listening Rangers supporters would have already turned their radios off, but
just three minutes later the injury-hit home side's hopes of a result were well
and truly killed off.
It came after another sweeping move forward which was brilliantly finished by
Petrov heading home Agathe's superb deep cross from seven yards.
Ruitenbeek needed to be alert in the 38th minute to save Maloney's low
free-kick from creeping inside the post as Celtic went in search of boosting
their goal difference.
They did exactly that in the 58th minute and it was Larsson who brought about
the goal again after being tripped in the box by Barry Nicholson.
Alan Freeland pointed to the spot and despite his supreme confidence, the
Swede let Thompson carry on his penalty-taking responsibilities and he fired
into the bottom corner.
Dunfermline began to lose their discipline and Craig Brewster was booked for a
late challenge on Neil Lennon in the 53rd minute.
Broto could have been forgiven for falling asleep during the second half, but
he did well to stay awake and brilliantly save Crawford's header in the 77th
minute.
Substitute Scott McNicol gave Dunfermline and Rangers some consolation with a
goal out of the blue in the 80th minute which reduced the champions' goal
difference.
That could prove costly at the end of the season with Rangers three goals
better off.
Teams:
Dunfermline: Ruitenbeek, Walker, Bullen, Grondin (Hunt 45),
Nicholson, Mason, Dempsey, Kilgannon, Dair (MacPherson 45),
Brewster (McNicol 69), Crawford.
Subs Not Used: Murdoch, Campbell.
Booked: Brewster.
Goals: McNicol 80.
Celtic: Broto, Valgaeren (Lambert 10), Balde, Laursen,
Agathe (Fernandez 69), Lennon (Smith 79), McNamara, Petrov,
Thompson, Larsson, Maloney.
Subs Not Used: Marshall, Crainey.
Goals: Larsson 21, Petrov 29, 32, Thompson 59 pen.
Att: 8,923
Ref: A Freeland (Scotland).
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