|
With the sun shining down on a packed Paradise Celtic dismantled the visiting fifers with an ease the bordered on the embarrassing at times.
There was no Henrik Larsson or Chris Sutton for the home side but in the end it didn't really matter as, even without these two heavyweights, Celtic coasted to victory with goals from, Hartson 2, Paul Lambert, Jamie Smith and Momo Sylla.
The rout started in the 18th minute when Hartson, having already missed an easier chance, headed home an excellent Guppy cross, following a throw in the was given in error to Celtic by the referee.
11 mintes later and the game was as good as over as Lambert hit home following a Crainey strike that had been beaten out by Ruitenbeek.
After the break, Smith, who had come on as a substitute, made it 3-0 in the 58th minute with a dipping effort that took a glance of Thompson on it's way into the net. The Celtic youngster took his opportunity well and really does look like a star in the making at the moment.
Just after Celtic's third Dunfermline came as close to scoring as they had all day when Nicholls sent a raging strike just narrowly wide.
With 20 mintes left it was 4-0 Celtic and again it was Hartson on target as the bi Welshman scored with an accurate shot that had the Dunfermline goalkeeper well beaten.
Momo Sylla tied up the loose ends near then end when he nipped in at the back post to hit home another good Guppy cross.
Celtic will never get it easier than this at home and the game in a way perfectly illustrated the chasm that exists between the old firm and the rest of the Premier League. Dunfermline were chasing a european spot before yesterday and still couldn't cope with an under strength Celtic side who looked miles ahead in every department.