John Hartson and Henrik Larsson scored two goals in four first-half minutes to
give Celtic three valuable points and keep the heat on leaders Rangers.
The Welshman bagged his 18th goal of the campaign and the Swede his 33rd to
secure the points and increase bottom-of-the-table United's woes.
But that killed the game by half-time and the Celtic fans had very little to
warm them during the second half.
Bobo Balde, John Hartson, Didier Agathe and Paul Lambert and Chris Sutton all
returned for the hosts while Daniele Chiarini, Billy Dodds, Andy Tod and Gary
Bollan were added to United's squad.
United made it difficult for Celtic in the opening minutes but the hosts
carved out their first good opportunity in the 14th minute.
Sutton found Larsson with a good ball and he played the ball into the path of
Stilian Petrov, whose first-time shot was saved at the second attempt by Paul
Gallacher.
The Swede continued to be lively and he got away from his marker moments later
from Petrov's pass, but his weak effort was comfortably saved by the United
goalkeeper.
Larsson was denied again in the 21st minute, this time by a desperate tackle
from David McCracken as he shaped to shoot, after good work by Petrov and
Hartson.
The United youngster again thwarted the Swede when clearing Larsson's
goalbound header from a Petrov corner off the line.
There was nothing that the visitors could do, however, to stop Celtic going
ahead in the 26th minute and it came courtesy of some magic from youngster Jamie
Smith, who marked his second consecutive appearance with a man-of-the match
display.
He made himself space to whip an inviting cross into the box and Hartson had
the easiest of headers down and past Gallacher from six yards.
But Celtic were concerned moments later when Johan Mjallby was forced to leave
the field holding his leg to be replaced by McNamara.
Any hopes of United fighting their way back into the game, however, were
destroyed on the half hour.
Sutton played the ball through to Petrov and he cleverly flicked the ball back
into the path of Larsson to prod it past the advancing Gallacher.
Hartson could have killed the game off a minute later with his second of the
night, but the goalkeeper reacted quickly to block his effort and the ball
ricocheted behind.
Larsson and Smith were clearly enjoying themselves and the duo linked up well
for the striker to shoot with Gallacher saving low to his right.
McCracken let his frustration get the better of him and he was rightly booked
for persistent fouling culminating in a dreadful challenge on Petrov.
Celtic took their foot off the gas, but Larsson almost gave the noticeably
quiet home fans something to shout about when he headed Petrov's corner over the
crossbar from six yards.
The Swede had another opportunity to double his tally in the 59th minute after
Sutton was fouled just outside the box, but he curled his free-kick just wide.
Tod opened his account up for his new club with a booking with Larsson again
on the receiving end of some harsh treatment.
Hegarty handed Tod his debut at the break with Duff the player to make way,
but Celtic continued to threaten.
Petrov exchanged passes with Larsson, after good work from Hartson, but his
effort was blocked by Chiarini before Smith fired a dangerous ball across the
face of goal.
The youngster then cut in from the left and went for goal himself, but his low
right-foot strike flew just past the upright.
But the home side got a wake-up call in the 72nd minute when Derek Lilley
played Jim McIntyre in, but with just Magnus Hedman to beat he panicked and
fired over.
It was also a miserable night for Didier Agathe as he again looked short of
confidence, but his deflected shot bounced just past the post with 10 minutes
remaining.
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