Celtic understudies seize stage

Competition for places is the current theme preoccupying Celtic, but the battle within Parkhead is likely to be fiercer than the contest for the Scottish Premier League if the champions keep up this pace.

Dundee United were swept aside yesterday on a day in which so-called "fringe men" such as Jackie McNamara and John Hartson scored goals to enhance their claims for a starting place, while regular contributors Stilian Petrov, Chris Sutton and Henrik Larsson also found the net.

The Champions' League may be the holy grail, but Martin O'Neill refuses to take his eye off the domestic bauble. Any notion that his side might have suffered after their strenuous European efforts in midweek were dispelled. The manager freshened his side by giving Magnus Hedman and Ulrik Laursen – who had yet to kick a ball in anger despite £3.5million being spent on them – their debuts.

The Swedish international goalkeeper must have been more surprised than anyone, given that he watched in admiration as Robert Douglas produced an awesome display in the midweek success against Basle. However, it had been good practice for Hedman, who was a spectator as Celtic ran riot in the first half.

Had it not been for his young counterpart, Paul Gallacher, then Dundee United could have been cut adrift. Gallacher supplied crucial touches to deny fierce shots from Petrov and Larsson inside the opening two minutes, and had thwarted Larsson again before a quarter of an hour had elapsed, after the prolific striker's delightful exchange with Sutton.

Eventually United buckled, conceding two goals inside 45 seconds. Gallacher could little to keep out McNamara's venomous right-foot shot, which found the roof of the net after Steve Guppy had rolled a disguised free-kick into the midfielder's path, 25 yards out, when United's players were ready to defend a high ball.

Then Guppy promptly switched flanks and delivered a cross which both Kevin McGowne and Jim Lauchlan failed to clear. Sutton profited, drilling a low shot beyond Gallacher.

The contest was finished after 32 minutes as Petrov was finally rewarded for his endeavour. The Bulgarian robbed McGowne and supplied Larsson, whose shot was parried by Gallacher, allowing Petrov to pounce and stab the ball in.

Not surprisingly, Dundee United laboured vigorously to shore up the midfield in the second half and the policy of containment lasted until Celtic made a triple substitution with 20 minutes remaining.

On came Stephen Crainey, Hartson and David Fernandez, bringing new hunger to the contest, and the latter pair soon put a massive distance between the champions and their bemused guests.

Within seven minutes Hartson was celebrating his first goal of the season. The Welsh striker rose to meet yet another perfect delivery from Guppy, this time a corner, and the header crashed past the helpless Gallacher.

Celtic, though, were not sated. Larsson had yet to provide his customary goal, but he owed a huge debt to Fernandez, whose 70-yard run finished with an unselfish cross to the Swede, who had pulled to the back post, to thump in another header.

Celtic 5 Dundee United 0
McNamara 25, Sutton 26, Petrov 33, Hartson 78, Larsson 80

Half-time: 3-0 Attendance: 56,907