Celtic strolled to the top of the Scottish Premier Division with an ominous
swagger as Dunfermline were outclassed at Parkhead.
Once again it was newcomer Harald Brattbakk who led the way, with the first of
his two strikes the pick of the night's goals.
Henrik Larsson put Celtic ahead after just four minutes with his 17th goal of
a fine season, but that initial spark soon faded.
That was the cue for Brattbakk, fresh from scoring four against Kilmarnock on
Saturday, to produce a stunning 25-yard strike to double Celtic's advantage
after 28 minutes.
The Norwegian then combined with Larsson 12 minutes later to put the match
beyond the Pars' reach by the halfway point and finally lay a personal jinx for
Wim Jansen.
The Celtic head coach's first League home game in charge was a 2-1 defeat to
Dunfermline on August 16, but tonight showed the impact he has made since.
As if to prove the golden touch Jansen now possesses, he introduced Phil
O'Donnell for Craig Burley on the hour and the substitute nodded in a fourth
with his first touch.
After 68 minutes Morten Wieghorst made the scoreline still more emphatic, with
Andy Tod's 74th minute response for the visitors a distinct afterthought in a
convincing home triumph.
Marc Rieper passed an important late fitness test to bolster a central defence
missing both Alan Stubbs and his natural replacement, Enrico Annoni, because of
injury.
That meant David Hannah played at right-back, while Tom Boyd moved across into
the centre. Simon Donnelly stepped in for knee-injury victim Jackie McNamara on
the right.
Larsson gave Celtic the ideal start after four minutes and it was Donnelly who
created the chance, recreating the understanding the two built up as strike
partners earlier this term.
A clever flick by Donnelly released Larsson, whose initial shot was saved by
keeper Ian Westwater, but the rebound fell kindly for the Swede to stroke the
ball in.
Moments later a superb Larsson pass put Brattbakk clean through, but Westwater
blocked the snap-shot superbly with an outstretched foot.
Andy Smith missed a chance to level for Dunfermline after 12 minutes, but he
snatched at the opportunity, clearing the bar from eight yards and predictably
it was to prove costly.
On 28 minutes Brattbakk picked up a short Mahe pass and curled a fierce
25-yard shot into the top corner to dispel any lingering doubts about
hisability.
Celtic's now constant pressure almost produced a third for Larsson after 36
minutes, when he spurned a clear opening again created by the impressive
Donnelly.
But the home side did ensure a convincing three-goal interval advantage just
five minutes before the break and again it was the blossoming understanding
between their new front duo that was responsible.
Boyd brought the ball out of defence expertly before feeding Larsson, who in
turn released Brattbakk and his low shot found its way past the unprotected
Westwater.
Celtic's opening to the second period was quiet until what can only be
described as a telling change on the hour.
With Burley struggling with a muscle strain, O'Donnell was introduced and
within a minute had scored.
Donnelly's corner from the right picked out O'Donnell, whose downward header
crashed against the underside of the bar and over the line.
After 68 minutes Celtic secured a fifth and this time it was Wieghorst who
took his moment to shine, hitting a 20-yard shot low past the struggling
Westwater.
The game might then have been finished as a contest, but Dunfermline showed
their character with a consolation score.
Greg Shields' precise cross was met by an unmarked Tod, who placed his header
beyond the reach of a fuming Jonathan Gould, clearly eyeing another clean
sheet.
It was the only foot Celtic put wrong all night and their quickstep to their
first title in a decade is gathering pace.
Teams
Celtic: Gould, Boyd, Mahe, Donnelly, Rieper, Hannah,
Larsson (Johnson 73), Burley (O'Donnell 60), Brattbakk, Lambert,
Wieghorst, Johnson (MacKay 87).
Goals: Larsson 4, Brattbakk 28, 40, O'Donnell 61, Wieghorst 68.
Dunfermline: Westwater, Shields, McCulloch (Bingham 64), Tod,
Ireland, Miller (Shaw 85), Huxford, Robertson, Smith, French,
Petrie (Moore 46).
Booked: McCulloch, Huxford.
Goals: Tod 74.
Att: 48,502
Ref: M Clark (Edinburgh).
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