Post by Taxigirl on Nov 23, 2003 13:14:22 GMT
Hat-trick hero Chris Sutton and two-goal Henrik Larsson made it impossible for Martin O'Neill to split them up for the Champions League showdown with Bayern Munich after they reunited to awesome effect by gunning down Dundee United 5-1 at Tannadice.
The explosive striking pair moved Celtic eight points clear of Rangers at the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League.
But now all their attentions are switched to Tuesday night as they look to book their place in the knock-out stages of Europe's premier competition and drive a nail into the German side's coffin.
O'Neill is faced with a tough dilemma in attack but the form of Larsson and Sutton must have helped him make up his mind.
Before kick-off he chose to pair the duo together and leave Larsson's normal partner John Hartson on the bench after his midweek disappointment with Wales.
The big marksman was left to watch as Sutton showed that he had not lost his threat in attack after stints in midfield and defence.
Celtic, however, started shakily at the back and had Stanislav Varga booked in the fifth minute for a mistimed challenge on Barry Robson, who threatened to break through.
The home side had the ball in the net a minute later when former Rangers striker Billy Dodds prodded home from close range but referee Kenny Clark saw an infringement.
Celtic were struggling to get their fluent passing game flowing but they still looked like they could go up several gears at any time.
Didier Agathe got on the end of Alan Thompson's deep cross but was unable to put Paul Gallacher under any sort of pressure.
The visitors finally put a good passing move together which almost resulted in the opener in the 18th minute.
Larsson fed Stilian Petrov on the left flank and his cross arrived at Thompson but his volley bounced just past the post from nine yards.
Three minutes later Sutton fired over the crossbar from the edge of the box after being picked out by Varga's long ball.
Thompson somehow avoided a booking moments later for a poor tackle on Dodds under the referee's nose and in good view of both dug-outs.
But Celtic went even closer to breaking the deadlock in the 26th minute when Sutton fed Larsson inside the box but he drove his right-footed shot into the side-netting.
United's early threat had disappeared and even when the Celtic defence allowed Derek McInnes to run through the midfield his shot was too weak to test Magnus Hedman.
But in a half of so much mediocrity it was not a surprise that a mistake from Chris Innes gifted Celtic their opening goal in the 32nd minute.
He stumbled inside the box and the ball ran to Sutton who then steered the ball around Gallacher and inside his left post.
Varga was fortunate not to be shown a second yellow card when he blatantly body-checked Robson on the far touchline but he was substituted at the break.
Scotland duo Robert Douglas and Jackie McNamara came on for Hedman and Varga and Ian McCall also made a change with Collin Samuel replacing Robson.
But Celtic gave United enough warning that they were on the verge of going goal crazy.
Larsson sent Liam Miller away down the right and he pulled the ball back into the path of Sutton but as he postured to score, Innes made a vital tackle.
But Celtic did increase their lead in the 52nd minute when Petrov's corner found Larsson strangely unmarked in the box and he headed home from close range.
Larsson went down hurt after an off-the-ball incident involving Dodds and the United man was given a talking to after making a gesture to the fans and speaking out of turn.
Celtic should have gone even further ahead in the 55th minute when Petrov mis-kicked Sutton's pass in front of goal and then Miller blazed high and wide.
But the visitors rubbed Dodds' nose in it when they did increase their lead in the 56th minute, Gallacher making a mess of Larsson's lob and Sutton firing the rebound home.
United were in disarray and they conceded another goal just two minutes later. Larsson picked up the ball just outside the box and he blasted a crisp right-footed shot into the top corner of the net.
O'Neill chose to rest Larsson in the 68th minute and bring the young legs of Maloney into the action.
But Celtic conceded a goal in the 76th minute when Jim McIntyre capitalised on a mistake by Agathe to fire past Douglas.
However Sutton won a spot-kick after a clumsy challenge from Alan Archibald and dusted himself down to complete his hat-trick.
The explosive striking pair moved Celtic eight points clear of Rangers at the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League.
But now all their attentions are switched to Tuesday night as they look to book their place in the knock-out stages of Europe's premier competition and drive a nail into the German side's coffin.
O'Neill is faced with a tough dilemma in attack but the form of Larsson and Sutton must have helped him make up his mind.
Before kick-off he chose to pair the duo together and leave Larsson's normal partner John Hartson on the bench after his midweek disappointment with Wales.
The big marksman was left to watch as Sutton showed that he had not lost his threat in attack after stints in midfield and defence.
Celtic, however, started shakily at the back and had Stanislav Varga booked in the fifth minute for a mistimed challenge on Barry Robson, who threatened to break through.
The home side had the ball in the net a minute later when former Rangers striker Billy Dodds prodded home from close range but referee Kenny Clark saw an infringement.
Celtic were struggling to get their fluent passing game flowing but they still looked like they could go up several gears at any time.
Didier Agathe got on the end of Alan Thompson's deep cross but was unable to put Paul Gallacher under any sort of pressure.
The visitors finally put a good passing move together which almost resulted in the opener in the 18th minute.
Larsson fed Stilian Petrov on the left flank and his cross arrived at Thompson but his volley bounced just past the post from nine yards.
Three minutes later Sutton fired over the crossbar from the edge of the box after being picked out by Varga's long ball.
Thompson somehow avoided a booking moments later for a poor tackle on Dodds under the referee's nose and in good view of both dug-outs.
But Celtic went even closer to breaking the deadlock in the 26th minute when Sutton fed Larsson inside the box but he drove his right-footed shot into the side-netting.
United's early threat had disappeared and even when the Celtic defence allowed Derek McInnes to run through the midfield his shot was too weak to test Magnus Hedman.
But in a half of so much mediocrity it was not a surprise that a mistake from Chris Innes gifted Celtic their opening goal in the 32nd minute.
He stumbled inside the box and the ball ran to Sutton who then steered the ball around Gallacher and inside his left post.
Varga was fortunate not to be shown a second yellow card when he blatantly body-checked Robson on the far touchline but he was substituted at the break.
Scotland duo Robert Douglas and Jackie McNamara came on for Hedman and Varga and Ian McCall also made a change with Collin Samuel replacing Robson.
But Celtic gave United enough warning that they were on the verge of going goal crazy.
Larsson sent Liam Miller away down the right and he pulled the ball back into the path of Sutton but as he postured to score, Innes made a vital tackle.
But Celtic did increase their lead in the 52nd minute when Petrov's corner found Larsson strangely unmarked in the box and he headed home from close range.
Larsson went down hurt after an off-the-ball incident involving Dodds and the United man was given a talking to after making a gesture to the fans and speaking out of turn.
Celtic should have gone even further ahead in the 55th minute when Petrov mis-kicked Sutton's pass in front of goal and then Miller blazed high and wide.
But the visitors rubbed Dodds' nose in it when they did increase their lead in the 56th minute, Gallacher making a mess of Larsson's lob and Sutton firing the rebound home.
United were in disarray and they conceded another goal just two minutes later. Larsson picked up the ball just outside the box and he blasted a crisp right-footed shot into the top corner of the net.
O'Neill chose to rest Larsson in the 68th minute and bring the young legs of Maloney into the action.
But Celtic conceded a goal in the 76th minute when Jim McIntyre capitalised on a mistake by Agathe to fire past Douglas.
However Sutton won a spot-kick after a clumsy challenge from Alan Archibald and dusted himself down to complete his hat-trick.