Celtic made 3 changes from the Valencia game starting line up with Guppy, Thomson and Hartson replacing Petta, Moravcik and Sutton.
Celtic started well pressing Dunfermline and denying them possession and won a corner in 8 minutes. Balde met Petrov's inswinging cross from the left at the near post and glanced it into the net. Petrov came close shortly aftewards. Thomson advanced down the left sending in a dangerous cross. The ball broke to Stan but he could only hit the crossbar.
Dunfermline hadn't been in the game but Balde was booked for jersey pulling and when the resulting free-kick by Petrie went low round the wall Douglas was alert and easily dealt with it. Another half-chance fell to Dunfermline as Balde got the ball caught between his feet, giving Hampshire a chance to sieze possession and shoot wide.
In 19 minutes Hartson made it 2-0. A run by Guppy up the left was followed by a looping cross. Hartson got on the end of it and touched the ball home with the inside of his right boot. Hartson was looking lively and when he chased a ball down the right the keeper challenged. Big J went round the keeper and squared the ball to Larsson who was peeling off, but Henrik somehow contrived to miss the keeper-less goal, appearing to be a little off-balance.
Henrik again seemed to have lost his eye for goal in 27 minutes. Another move by Hartson move up the right led to the ball being cut back across the box. Henrik had his back to goal but we expected him to swivel and shoot; instead he laid it off to Guppy who shot wide with his right foot.
John Hartson then put his defence in trouble with a passback which was chased by a Dunfermline forward. Douglas had to dive to scramble it clear but it came off Balde and fell to a Dunfermline foot. Big Bobo got back to clear off the line.
McNamara replaced Lambert for the second half.
Petrov corners had given Dunfermline a lot of problems and in 47 min, Balde's back header hit the bar after Stan's corner was headed on by Henrik.
Dunfermline began the second half a little more brightly and Petrie broke down the left and crossed but Hampshire headed wide when he should have done better.
The points were wrapped up for Celtic in 59 minutes when John Hartson rose at the near post to head home another Petrov corner from the left. Two minutes later, Celts went 4-0 up. Henrik took a free-kick from outside the box. The ball hit the wall and broke to Alan Thomson. His first time left foot volley curved up over the defenders and dropped high into the net with the goalkeeper stranded. Nice one Alan!
Celtic made 2 more substitutions. First Sylla replaced Lennon and a little later, Maloney replaced Petrov.
There was time for more action in front of the Dunfermline goal with the keeper saving from Thomson and Balde again hitting the bar with a header. The game was over for Dunfermline and Celtic had bounced back from their European disappointment with a very professional victory.
DUNFERMLINE (3-5-2): Ruitenbeek; McPherson (Skinner 46), Skerla, Thomson; Hampshire, Ferguson, Nicholson, Mason, Petrie (McGroarty 71); Crawford, Bullen
Subs: Harrower, Dair, Nish
CELTIC (3-5-2): Douglas; Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren; Petrov (Maloney 73), Lennon (Sylla 67), Lambert (McNamara 46), Thompson, Guppy; Larsson, Hartson
Subs: Gould, Maloney, Smith