SPL Sunday October 27th

Dunfermline 1

Celtic 4

0:1 Larsson (24); 0:2 Thompson (31); 1:2 Brewster (55); 1:3 Petrov (74); 1:4 Sutton (83)

Att: 9,139

MIB: Dougie McDonald

Celtic: Gould; Valgaeren, Balde, Laursen; Agathe (Sylla 86), Lennon, Lambert (Hartson 76), Petrov (Maloney 85), Thompson; Larsson, Sutton

This was a real trick and treat as the Pars actually managed to give Celtic a match for a change - well for 10 minutes, which was quite good for a team lying third in the league.

With Gould replacing an ill Rab D and Thompson filling in for an injured Guppy, Celtic didn't settle well. The Pars twice came close in the opening ten minutes, with Gould pulling off a fine save as he played Makepeice to Dunfermline's Dempsey.

It took twenty minutes or so for Celtic to really show as Larsson tested Ruitenbeek with a 25 yarder. Five minutes later and Celtic were one up. Henke waltzed through the home defence and wrong footed Ruitenbeek in the Dunfermline goal. Cue the ritual spanking for the Pars and enter the Police stage right, as the travelling troops' display of flag waving fell foul of the law. Thankfully this didn't distract too much from a superb Thompson drive on the half hour to put the Tic two up.

Normal service resumed in the second half as Celtic began playing some 'keep ball', stroking passes through the midfield and threatening to run up a cricket score. As Jimmy Nicholl frothed masonic curses on the sideline, Gould, haunted by the ghost of Rab D and other assorted Goalkeepers of Celtic Past, went limp. He managed only to flap at a soft Skerla lob allowing Brewster to head into the net. The home side briefly rallied but Celtic dug in The pressure didn't last and the Pars soon found themselves on the rack again as Petrov, then Sutton rounded off the scoring.

This was a convincing win, but Celtic were sloppy, especially at the back. Our game will have to be well and truly lifted before we meet the Legions of the Beast in the UEFA Cup, especially as Souness will be at the height of his dark powers seeing as the game is to take place on Hallowe'en.