Tommy Johnson's dramatic Celtic return effectively consigned Dunfermline to Scottish Premier League relegation at East End Park to end their three years in the top flight.

Goals after two and 44 minutes from Johnson meant Celtic survived the 43rd-minute ordering-off of Mark Viduka to claim a win which would have been more crucial to the home team.

With Dundee United managing a point at home to Kilmarnock, Dunfermline are now six points adrift with two games remaining combined with a goal difference which offers scant hope.

Celtic, still reeling from last Sunday's hostile Old Firm derby, had a subdued look throughout, but even with 10 men in the second half they were rarely under threat until late on.

Owen Coyle secured an 83rd-minute consolation for the Pars after an error by Enrico Annoni, yet the belated siege for all its battling quality was unable to find the target a second time.

Having won only four SPL games all season, Dunfermline's fate was sealed long before this fixture as they have been plagued by a failure to turn draws into victories.

Stephane Mahe and Vidar Riseth were suspended for their red cards in the 3-0 home defeat which clinched the title for Rangers, joining the banned Tom Boyd and a host of injuries.

It meant Johnson earned his first start since August 1997 having last appeared as a substitute against Dunfermline in February of last year because of a succession of fitness problems.

Phil O'Donnell and Simon Donnelly, both bound for Sheffield Wednesday in the summer, each played, as did youngster Colin Healy who was given his first Celtic start on the right.

Although only pride was on the agenda, Celtic started purposefully and went ahead in only the second minute - and remarkably it was the long absent Johnson who netted.

Alan Stubbs' deep cross from the right was headed into Johnson's path by Henrik Larsson and he struck a half-volley beyond the reach of Lee Butler in the Dunfermline goal.

Dunfermline's response was to twice threaten from corners, Marc Millar and Richard Huxford sending headers wide of the mark when well-placed in the area.

Celtic might have doubled their advantage after 22 minutes when the lively Healy crossed for Larsson, who turned the ball goalwards only to be denied by a fine one-handed Butler stop.

Celtic had the ball in the net again after 33 minutes but Viduka's effort was ruled out for offside with Larsson's pass to his striking colleague adjudged to be delayed too long.

Dunfermline came close two minutes later when Marc Millar's fierce shot was only beaten away into the air by Celtic keeper Stewart Kerr with Coyle's effort from the rebound blocked on the line by Annoni.

After 39 minutes recent recruit from Motherwell Coyle, still searching for his first Dunfermline goal, wasted a fine inside pass from Smith by side-footing badly wide from close range.

The match flared up on 43 minutes when Viduka was red-carded following an off-the-ball altercation with Millar, with the striker apparently spitting at his opponent after being fouled on the edge of the area.

Celtic rose above the controversy from the resulting free-kick that Viduka had won as Larsson tapped the ball into Johnson's path and he promptly fired in his second goal of the game.

The visitors introduced Harald Brattbakk for O'Donnell and he was at once involved the action as Donnelly played him through on Butler, who looked to trip him.

Referee Willie Young, however, was not convinced about the lateness of the Norwegian striker's fall and refused the penalty claim only to incredibly award a spot-kick moments later.

Stubbs played the ball to Donnelly inside the area and his well-struck shot hit the hand of Millar to leave Young with no option but to point to the spot.

Larsson assumed responsibility for Celtic only to drive his shot too close to home keeper Butler, whose reaction save kept his team's faint survival hopes flickering.

Celtic almost made it 3-0 after 57 minutes when Healy dinked the ball to the far post where Larsson's header clipped the bar and the rebound somehow eluded the onrushing Donnelly in front of an open goal.

Johnson then made a bid for a hat-trick on the hour mark only for his long-distance strike to drift wide, while a Larsson header was ruled out for offside.

Substitute Gerry Britton came on to add urgency to the Pars' frontline but his angled drive was comfortably held by Kerr after 76 minutes.

With seven minutes remaining Dunfermline finally stirred when Coyle pounced after Annoni's backpass was too short and Kerr could only parry Britton's snap-shot.

A brace of stunning saves from Kerr deprived Smith a leveller from point-blank range as the match reached a thrilling finale, but for Dunfermline it was all too little, much too late.

Teams:

Dunfermline: Butler, Shields, Coyle, Tod, Ireland, Miller, Huxford, Smith, Petrie, Thomson, Dair.

Subs Not Used: Britton, Shaw, Hay, Ferguson, McGroaty.

Booked: Shields.

Goals: Coyle 83.

Celtic: Kerr, Stubbs, Larsson, O'Donnell, Wieghorst, Johnson, Donnelly, Lambert, Annoni, Healy, Viduka.

Subs Not Used: Brattbakk, Burchill, Keogh, Corr, Marshall.Sent Off: Viduka (43).

Booked: Donnelly, Kerr, Larsson.

Goals: Johnson 2, 44.

Att: 8,809