Bobby Petta puts pressure on Lee Dair

The flow of play was largely one-way, but Lee Bullen did manage a long-range shot at goal that was easily held by Rab Douglas.

Celtic continued to threaten in search of the opener and Ruitenbeek was called into action to block a 25-yard drive from Sutton just after the half-hour mark.

A blunder by Balde six minutes before the interval gifted possession to Craig Brewster and he lined the ball up for Mason, but the Dunfermline player sent his shot well over.

Sutton was unlucky not to open the scoring a few minutes later when he picked up on the rebound from a Petrov shot, only for his effort to cannon off Andrius Skerla.

Celtic's pressure paid off four minutes before the break when Petta's corner found Larsson inside the six-yard box and he rose, unchallenged, to head Celtic powerfully ahead from just a few yards out.

Gary Dempsey catches Douglas off his line

Dunfermline had a chance just after the hour mark when Jason Dair played the ball on to Crawford but his effort was easily held by Douglas.

With 65 minutes gone, Larsson doubled Celtic's advantage. Petta was fouled by Mason but referee Hugh Dallas signalled for play to continue and the ball broke to the Swede, who produced a delightful lob to send the ball over Ruitenbeek and into the net.

Dunfermline brought on Gary Dempsey after 73 minutes and the substitution proved to be an inspired decision.

Dempsey had been on the park for only a minute when he pulled a goal back, spotting Douglas well off his line and lobbing the ball high over the Celtic goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

With just three minutes remaining, Dunfermline were unlucky not to take a share of the points when Douglas was forced into a superb save to deny a powerful effort from Nicholson.

Celtic: Douglas, Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren, Sylla, Lennon, Lambert, Petrov, Petta (Crainey 89), Sutton, Larsson (Fernandez 83).

Subs Not Used: Hedman, Hartson, Maloney.

Booked: Sylla.

Dunfermline: Ruitenbeek, Bullen, Skerla, Scott Thomson, Dair, Hampshire (Walker 73), Mason, Nicholson, Kilgannon (Dempsey 73), Brewster, Crawford.

Subs Not Used: Stillie, Nicholls, McLeish.

Booked: Nicholson, Dair.

Att: 57,415

Ref: H Dallas