SPL: Celtic put four past Dundee Utd

Dundee United 0, Celtic 4 (full-time)

John Hartson took full advantage of Chris Sutton’s injury to grab an impressive opener after just four minutes against Dundee United.

The Tannadice side rarely looked like troubling the Hoops defence and instead Celtic pounded Paul Gallacher’s goal for most of the game.

Stilian Petrov added a second before half-time and Alan Thompson netted the third goal from a free-kick before striker Henrik Larsson sealed the win 19 minutes from time.

The strike partership of Hartson and Larsson was proving to be fruitful as Celtic put the game beyond doubt after 71 minutes.

Hartson played the ball through to the Swede and he smacked the Hoops’ fourth goal of the game in off the post.

United midfielder Charlie Miller was lucky to escape the first booking of the game for a nasty challenge on Petrov after 74 minutes but, just seconds later, the referee opted to caution Thompson for dissent.

Rowbotham was reaching for the yellow card again after 82 minutes as the game became more heated - this time Partridge’s name went in the book for a foul on Larsson.

Despite his earlier reluctance, the official eventually cautioned Miller, two minutes later, for a challenge on Bobby Petta.

Even as the game entered stoppage time, Celtic were still searching for another goal and Thompson could have claimed his second of the day but nodded wide from a Hartson cross.