Henrik Larsson took his tally for the season to 37 goals in what was almost certainly managing director Fergus McCann's last appearance at the ground.

The end of the current tax year makes it a prudent time for McCann to leave the club after five years in charge.

Larsson struck twice to pull Celtic to within six points of leaders Rangers and give McCann a rousing send-off.

A new structure is in place at Celtic with Allan MacDonald the chief executive and Frank O'Callaghan the chairman.

McCann, however, will continue to act as non-executive director for the time being from his base at St Tropez in the south of France. That means he will be close enough to attend meetings to decide how his majority shareholding should be dispensed.

McCann was given a standing ovation when he took his seat at the start. His reception was in marked contrast to last August when he was roundly jeered as the championship flag was unfurled.

It would have been no surprise had McCann nodded off for Dundee were dreadful. The visitors were immediately in trouble with Mark Viduka carving a path through their defence after two minutes, only for his shot to come back off a post.

Larsson opened the scoring five minutes later to start the rout, getting on the end of an inswinging cross from Jackie McNamara to head home.

Larsson and Viduka both went close as Celtic kept up the pressure on their struggling rivals. Dundee, however, retaliated briefly but James Grady's shot was easily taken by keeper Jonathan Gould after Eddie Annand had carved out the opening.

It was just a brief respite with Celtic adding a second when Craig Burley drove the ball beyond keeper Robert Douglas in the 32nd minute after Larsson had pulled the ball back.

Viduka effectively put the game out of Dundee's reach three minutes before the break when he nodded the ball into the corner from Tosh McKinlay's cross. It was the big Australian's fifth goal for Celtic and his first at Parkhead. Dundee almost conceded a fourth in bizarre fashion on the stroke of half-time when an overhead kick from Vidar Riseth spun off Brian Irvine and off the bar.

If Dens Park manager Jocky Scott thought Celtic would take their foot of the pedal in the second half then he was sadly mistaken. Douglas twice saved from Larsson and Burley in quick succession as the 59,000 fans bayed for more goals.

The Dundee keeper then got a hand to a Larsson shot after McKinlay had cleverly played the ball through. Annand squandered a good chance of pulling a goal back when he hoisted his shot into the crowd after Grady had delivered a glorious pass from midfield.

Celtic, however, looked dangerous every time they broke forward and that was frequently. Larsson added his second goal of the game from the penalty spot after being hauled down by Barry Smith.

Celtic's fifth goal in the 72nd minute was embarrassing for Douglas, who had played well until then. He let his half-hit shot roll under his body and into the net.

Such was their dominance that Danish midfielder Morten Weighorst came on in the last 17 minutes - his first outing this season after a serious knee injury.

Teams

Celtic: Gould, Riseth, Boyd, Mjallby (Wieghorst 71), McNamara, Burley, Lambert, Blinker (Burchill 81), McKinlay, Larsson, Viduka (Brattbakk 67).

Subs Not Used: Donnelly, Corr.

Goals: Larsson 7, Burley 32, Viduka 41, Larsson 66 pen, Blinker 70.

Dundee: Douglas, Miller, Irvine, Smith, Raeside, Maddison, Rae, McInally, McSkimming, Grady, Annand.

Subs Not Used: Strachan, Coyne, Boyack, Tweed, Langfield.

Booked: Annand.

Att: 59,269 Ref: D McDonald (Edinburgh).