SPL Saturday August 17th

Celtic 5

Dundee United 0

1:0 McNamara (25); 2:0 Sutton (26); 3:0 Petrov (33); 4:0 Hartson (78); 5:0 Larsson (80)

Att: 56,907

MIB: Kenny Clark

Celtic: Hedman; Mjallby (Crainey 74), Balde, Valgaeren; Sylla, Lennon, Lambert, Petrov (Maloney 74), Petta (Fernandez 74); Larsson, Sutton

A ritual slaughter and a considerable improvement on performances of late, but it's hard to say whether this was because Celtic were so good or because Dundee United were so abysmal... and they were abysmal.

McNamara netted the first goal after 25 minutes but it was a miracle that it took so long for the scoreboard to start ticking over. It was Jackie's eighth goal in seven years. No wonder he looked slightly bemused at the sight of his team mates clambering all over him. The place reserved in his trophy cabinet for the Golden Boot seems destined never to be filled, alas.

Number two followed shortly afterwards courtesy of Sutton, and when Petrov scored the third five minutes later it looked as though United were in for one of those stuffings that were once the private preserve of Aberdeen.

Understandably, the tempo slowed a bit after the break, but things perked up again when OFM brought on the subs. Guppy crossed for Hartson to head home the fourth then Fernandez set Larsson up for the fifth. In fact he looked sprightly enough to beg the question as to why we don't see quite as much of him as we thought we might, especially given that there's a distinct lack of creativity in Celtic's midfield at the moment.

The other new signings also made appearances. Magnus Hedman looked quite imposing in goal and dealt competently with the barrage of shots and crosses that were flying in towards him every few minutes. At least that's what he might tell his grandchildren. In reality he had to collect one cross, which was the sum total of United's attacking endeavour all afternoon. Ulrik Laursen strolled through the game as well. He too will have stiffer tests to come but he can't be faulted on this display.