The Bank of Scotland Premier League champions moved to within a point and four goals of leaders Rangers with a six-goal thrashing of dismal Dunfermline at Celtic Park on Saturday.

Celtic seemed lethargic after John Hartson had given them a first-half lead but after the break both the Welsh striker and Stilian Petrov helped themselves to doubles and man of the match Aiden McGeady and Craig Beattie also weighed in to give the visitors what they too warranted.

Even without Chris Sutton, Martin O'Neill's men once again turned up the heat on their big rivals, who have still played a game more going into their tricky trip to Dundee on Sunday.

Celtic had a decent claim for a penalty as early as the fourth minute which would have opened the floodgates but referee Iain Brines was not interested.

He must have been as surprised as the home crowd to see Stanislav Varga skipping away from Iain Campbell in the area which forced the Dunfermline man into making a clumsy challenge.

McGeady was clearly looking to make up for lost time having been dropped to the bench in recent weeks and he forced Scott Wilson to put his low shot wide even though goalkeeper Derek Stillie went down to make the save, two minutes later.

But Celtic did go ahead in the ninth minute and Hartson claimed it even though he did not seem to know too much about it.

Alan Thompson whipped in one of his trademark free-kicks from the left flank and the ball seemed to fly off the back of Hartson's foot and under the body of Stillie from six yards.

Craig Bellamy had yet to score at Celtic Park but he was presented with a good chance to get his third goal in five matches in the 16th minute.

McGeady far too easily danced past Wilson and then pulled the ball back to the Welsh international but his left-foot shot sailed high over the top from eight yards.

Dunfermline managed to find a way into the opposition half moments later which almost brought an undeserved equaliser.

Barry Nicholson found himself in room in the box but he failed to find the power and direction to test Robert Douglas and he dived to his right to make a comfortable save.

The champions will wonder how they failed to increase their lead in the 25th minute when Stillie unconvincingly punched out Hartson's drive from 12 yards, after his strength had took him beyond the Dunfermline defence, and Thompson failed to turn in the rebound.

The expected goal rush was not forthcoming but Celtic looked like killing the game off at half-time even though their build-up continued to be slow.

Petrov almost got in on the stroke of half-time but Andy Tod tracked back to take the ball off his foot.

Celtic were showing very little invention before the second goal but McGeady was trying his best to provide the spark.

He cut in from the right flank and unleashed a left-foot shot which Hartson got in the way of to direct the ball over the top.

It was the talented young Irishman who extended the Glasgow outfit's advantage to all but kill off the unambitious visitors in the 62nd minute.

Bellamy made a great run to give McGeady room to cut in from the left channel to fire a low right-foot shot past Stillie and into the corner from the edge of the area.

Hartson wrapped up the points with his second of the game in the 69th minute when he turned in Bellamy's cross from close range.

The goals continued to flow and three minutes later Petrov got his name on the scoresheet when he arrived in the area to sidefoot another cross from the on-loan striker.

The Bulgarian claimed a second for himself moments later when McGeady sent him away and a defender got back to stop his initial effort close to the line before he slotted home the loose ball.

Hartson came close to scoring his hat-trick in the 75th minute but he watched as his effort went just past the upright.

O'Neill made changes with Stephane Henchoz and Craig Beattie coming on for Ulrik Laursen and Jackie McNamara before Neil Lennon brought a great save from Stillie.

McGeady was given a hero's reception when he was taken off with five minutes left and replaced by Ross Wallace.

With two minutes remaining Beattie continued his remarkable scoring record by nodding home Wallace's cross to send the Celtic supporters home happy and put Rangers under pressure.

Teams:

Celtic Douglas, Varga, Balde, Laursen (Henchoz 75), McNamara (Beattie 80), Petrov, Lennon, Thompson, McGeady (Wallace 84), Bellamy, Hartson.

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Valgaeren, Fernandez, Lambert.

Goals: Hartson 9, McGeady 62, Hartson 69, Petrov 72, 75, Beattie 89.

Dunfermline Stillie, Darren Young, Scott Wilson, Skerla, Tod, Ross, Nicholson, Christiansen, Donnelly (McGlinchey 88), Campbell, Craig Wilson (McKeown 85).

Subs Not Used: Langfield, Scullion, Dunn.

Att: 58,908

Ref: I Brines (Scotland).