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With the Championship in the bag, the Celtic fans were happy and came to Celtic Park looking to be entertained and see their favourites maintain their 100% home record. They weren't to be disappointed as Celtic produced a great display of football against a "robust" Dunfermline team. Competition is clearly fierce for a Cup Final place and Sylla produced his best form so far in a Celtic jersey showing good vision, the ability to beat a man and a repertoire of skilful tricks. Agathe was proving a handful down the right but when he did manage a good delivery John Hartson skied the ball over the bar. Guppy, who some considered very much a fringe player with no real future at Parkhead had another excellent match and delivered a masterful curving cross for Hartson to power home his and Celtic's first goal. It quickly became apparent that it was going to be a question of how many. Celtic's second goal came from a good old-fashioned stramash. A clearance fell to Crainey and Marco Ruitenbeek did well to get a hand to his powerful strike. Hartson attempted a shot from the edge of the box but it was blocked by an onrushing defender. Lambert picked up the loose ball moved to his left and curled the ball round the defenders and inside the post. He doesn't score many but when he does they are crackers. The fans might have expected the game to die in the second half but Celtic came out keen to add to their tally. Jamie Smith had replaced Lennon for the second half and looked really lively. When he picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box he rifled home a cracking drive. Petta replaced Agathe in 54 minutes. Agathe had just been fouled and had returned to the field after treatment before the substitution which was hopefully precautionary. Guppy had put in a good shift on the left and he now moved over to the right. Jamie Smith played Hartson in on the right of the box and big John turned and angled a shot across the keeper and into the far corner of the net. Morten Weighorst came on to replace Mjallby but in truth he didn't have much to do. His most "notable" contribution was when he made a robust passback to Douglas who had to look sharp to control it with his chest and clear. Tom Boyd put in another sound performance and started to combine well with Guppy up the right. When Guppy's return ball gave Tom the opportunity to move into the box he switched the ball to his left and crossed to the far post where Sylla leaped athletically to head home a deserved goal. Celtic continued to press and were still chasing and harrying when the final whistle went. On a day when there were no bad performers for Celtic and excellent performances from Agathe, Lambert, Guppy and Hartson I'm awarding man of the match to Momo Sylla. CELTIC (3-5-2): Douglas; Mjallby (Wieghorst 60), Boyd, Crainey; Agathe (Petta 54), Lambert, Petrov, Lennon (Smith 46), Guppy; Hartson, Sylla. DUNFERMLINE (4-4-2): Ruitenbeek; Bullen, Skerla, Thomson, Karnebeek (McGarty 74); Mason, Nicholson, Nichols (Petrie 64), Dair; Crawford, N’Diaye. |