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- A first-half hat-trick for Henrik Larsson put Celtic on their way to an easy victory over Dunfermline Athletic.
Chris Sutton was instead given a starting place in defence, with Joos Valgaeren being rested.
Review
Celtic had the chance to open the scoring after only four minutes when Youssef Rossi nudged Hartson in the back when the Welsh striker was poised to head home from five yards. Scott Thompson pulled off a superb, one-handed save and twice came to the rescue at the subsequent corner to deny Bobo Balde and Larsson.
The other Scott Thompson had been hailed this week as a potential Scotland defender by team boss Jimmy Calderwood. But he and his defence consistently displayed slack marking and Celtic took the lead after 13 minutes when Balde knocked the ball back into the six yard box from a corner and the unmarked Larsson headed home.
Celtic went further ahead after 32 minutes when Larsson slipped in front of defender Thompson at the back post to knock a Hartson cross over the line.
The match was killed as a contest six minutes later when Hartson was first to react to a Larsson free-kick that deflected off the wall and Thompson was beaten by the low drive from 16 yards.
Hartson set up Larsson for the fourth two minutes before the break, the Swede driving the ball in off the far post from the edge of the box.
Dunfermline were more secure after the break, but they could not prevent Agathe adding the fifth with a thundering drive after 73 minutes.
Teams
Celtic:-
Douglas, Balde, Sutton, Mjallby (Crainey 74), Agathe, Lambert, Lennon (Smith 60), Moravcik (Maloney 74), Thompson, Larsson, Hartson.
Subs not used:- Gould, Petrov.
Goals:- Larsson 12, 32, 43, Hartson 37, Agathe 74.
Dunfermline:-
Scott Y Thomson, MacPherson (McGroarty 78), Skerla, Rossi (Bullen 45), Scott Thomson, Nicholson, Mason, Panopoulos, Dair, Crawford, N'Diaye (Nish 60).
Subs not used:- Harrower, Nicholls.
Booked:- Rossi.
Att:- 58,590
Ref:- J Rowbotham.
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Articles
Rampant Celtic thump Pars
BBC
Celtic 5-0 Dunfermline Athletic
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A first-half hat-trick for Henrik Larsson put Celtic on their way to an easy victory over Dunfermline Athletic.
The runaway Scottish Premier League leaders could even afford the luxury of another penalty miss from the Swedish striker as they made it 12 goals in three games against the Pars this season.
This time Celtic went in at half time four up, John Hartson adding the other strike as they quickly erased memories of that CIS Cup defeat by Rangers in midweek.
Didier Agathe hammered home the fifth midway through the second half.
Dunfermline captain Ian Ferguson missed the game through injury and his experience was badly missed.
John Hartson celebrates his goal
John Hartson scored the third goal
But it was Martin O'Neill's decision not to replace Hartson with fit-again Chris Sutton that paid dividends.
Sutton was instead given a starting place in defence, with Joos Valgaeren being rested.
Dunfermline looked like they might exploit that early on, with recent signings Seyni N'Diaye and Michael Panopoulos instrumental as Celtic were pinned back in their own box.
But Celtic had the chance to open the scoring after only four minutes when Youssef Rossi nudged Hartson in the back when the Welsh striker was poised to head home from five yards.
Scott Thompson pulled off a superb, one-handed save and twice came to the rescue at the subsequent corner to deny Bobo Balde and Larsson.
The other Scott Thompson had been hailed this week as a potential Scotland defender by team boss Jimmy Calderwood.
But he and his defence consistently displayed slack marking and Celtic took the lead after 13 minutes when Balde knocked the ball back into the six yard box from a corner and the unmarked Larsson headed home.
Dunfermline still looked dangerous coming forward, but the closest they came to a goal threat was a Steve Crawford volley from the edge of the box that was well held by Robert Douglas.
Celtic went further ahead after 32 minutes when Larsson slipped in front of defender Thompson at the back post to knock a Hartson cross over the line.
The match was killed as a contest six minutes later when Hartson was first to react to a Larsson free-kick that deflected off the wall and Thompson was beaten by the low drive from 16 yards.
Hartson set up Larsson for the fourth two minutes before the break, the Swede driving the ball in off the far post from the edge of the box.
Calderwood was clearly unhappy at the commitment of Rossi and the Moroccan international was replaced with Lee Bullen at half time.
Dunfermline were more secure after the break, but they could not prevent Agathe adding the fifth with a thundering drive after 73 minutes.
Celtic: Douglas, Balde, Sutton, Mjallby (Crainey 74), Agathe, Lambert, Lennon (Smith 60), Moravcik (Maloney 74), Thompson, Larsson, Hartson.
Subs Not Used: Gould, Petrov.
Dunfermline: Scott Y Thomson, MacPherson (McGroarty 78), Skerla, Rossi (Bullen 45), Scott Thomson, Nicholson, Mason, Panopoulos, Dair, Crawford, N'Diaye (Nish 60).
Subs Not Used: Harrower, Nicholls.
Booked: Rossi.
Attendance: 58,590
Referee: J Rowbotham
Celtic v Dunfermline
9th February 2002
SPL
Match Report – Football 365
http://www.100megsfree3.com/celticcrazy/rep2/9feb2002.html
Henrik Larsson missed a penalty but scored a hat-trick, as Celtic beat Dunfermline 5-0.
John Hartson and Didier Agathe also scored, as Celtic moved 16 points clear of Rangers with just 10 games remaining.
After three minutes, referee John Rowbotham adjudged Youssef Rossi to have pushed Hartson and pointed to the spot. Larsson stepped up, but Scott Thomson dived superbly to his right to turn his effort away.
The Dunfermline keeper again did well just a minute later when the ball broke to the Swede in the penalty box, but Thomson dived bravely at the feet of Larsson to deny him.
But Celtic poured on the pressure and Larsson made amends with an opportunistic opener in the 13th minute. Bobo Balde rose at the far post to divert Alan Thompson's corner back across the face of goal and the Swede dived to head home from close range.
Hartson went agonisingly close to increasing Celtic's lead in the 19th minute when Agathe whipped in a dangerous cross and the Welshman blazed a header just past the post. Under-pressure Thomson again denied Celtic on the half hour as Larsson found Hartson, but the agile keeper got down well to his right to divert the ball wide.
The visitors retaliated moments later with a good move as Mike Panopoulos' cross from the right was caught on the volley by Crawford, but Douglas got down well to save by his post.
Dunfermline, however, were unable to hold out for much longer as Celtic doubled their advantage through Larsson, although Hartson deserved credit for his part in the goal. Moravcik found the Welshman and his chip to the back post was bundled over the line by the Swede for his 22nd goal of the season.
The heads of the Dunfermline players dropped and Hartson deservedly got his reward with a goal of his own a minute later. Thompson's free-kick broke off the wall and sat up nicely for him to stroke the ball past Thomson and into the corner.
Hartson again was the provider for Larsson's third goal as he slid the ball to his team-mate, but it still needed an exquisite finish as he drew Thomson before chipping the ball over him and into the empty net.
Hartson tried an audacious chip from inside the box in the 75th minute which bounced just wide before the home side completed the rout through Agathe three minutes later. Hartson played the ball through to Thompson and his cut-back was fired emphatically into the roof of the net by the winger.
Man of the match: 3 goal Henrik Larsson
CELTIC (3-5-2): Douglas; Mjallby (Crainey 74), Sutton, Balde; Thompson, Lambert, Moravcik (Maloney 74), Lennon (Smith 60), Agathe; Hartson, Sutton.
Subs: Gould, Petrov.
DUNFERMLINE (5-3-2): Scott Y Thomson; McPherson, Rossi (Bullen 46), Scott M Thomson, Skerla, Dair; Panopoulos, Nicholson, Mason; Crawford, N’Diaye (Nish 60).
Subs: Harrower, McGroarty, Nicholls.