Scottish Premier League/Dundee Utd - 0 Celtic - 3: It might take an age for Martin O'Neill's side to learn from their lessons in the Champions League but, with a convincing victory at Tannadice yesterday, Celtic again proved that they are still light years ahead of anything in Scotland.
The Celtic manager claimed his side had no luck in Europe - after their cruel defeat to AC Milan - whereas critics will say they are just incredibly slow learners. But just days after their heartbreaking San Siro experience, the Scottish champions and leaders first rode their luck and then emphatically taught United a lesson.
Chris Sutton helped himself to a double - one from the spot - and Stilian Petrov also hit the back of the net but by that time Ian McCall knew his side had no chance.
Celtic squandered many more chances - particularly a Juninho sitter - but that followed Hugh Dallas's reluctance to award United any of their three penalty appeals.
Before the controversy unfolded, the home side sensed that the visitors were in mourning after their midweek trauma and were appealing for a penalty after just one minute.
James Grady tried to push the ball past a grounded Bobo Balde and the defender knocked the ball behind for a cross with the suggestion that he had used his arm.
Henri Camara, John Hartson and Sutton all had chances to test goalkeeper Paul Jarvie in the United box but the finishing was not up to their usual standard.
United continued to threaten and Barry Robson produced the first real effort on goal when he whistled a fierce left-foot free kick just past David Marshall's upright.
Celtic went ahead in the 10th minute and it came after Stuart Duff had been dispossessed by Stilian Petrov close to the half-way line.
The visitors went up the pitch and won a corner and Sutton could not believe the room he had to glance the Bulgarian's cross into the corner of the net.
Balde was day-dreaming at times and he was fortunate not to concede a penalty in the 15th minute. Jim McIntyre was looking to get in behind him but a clumsy barge from behind saw the United man go down in the box though Dallas again waved away the protests.
That decision proved costly for McCall's men as Celtic went up the other end of the field to double their advantage after great work from John Hartson and Camara.
They combined to find the overlapping Petrov on the right and he fired a right-foot shot across Jarvie and into the opposite corner of the net.
Moments later and United were furious again when Joos Valgaeren appeared to bring Duff down in the box but the referee again showed no interest.
Camara earned his side a penalty in the 36th minute when he nudged the ball ahead of Jarvie and was sent sprawling and Sutton took the ball off him to fire into the corner to end the match as a contest.
Celtic will face much tougher games in the future - including a vital double header with Shakhtar Donetsk. It is not clear whether the champions will have taken lessons on board by then but one thing is for sure; they cannot expect the referees to be as generous as Dallas.
DUNDEE UNITED: Jarvie, Wilson, McCracken (McInnes 45), Innes, Archibald, Duff, Dodds (Kerkar 68), Brebner (Kerr 61), Robson, Grady, McIntyre. Subs Not Used: Hirschfeld, Scotland, Callaghan, Gardiner. Booked: McInnes.
CELTIC: Marshall, Varga, Balde, Valgaeren (Laursen 37), Agathe, Lennon, Petrov, Juninho Paulista, Camara (Lambert 77), Sutton, Hartson (Wallace 74). Subs Not Used: Hedman, Sylla, McGeady, Cuthbert. Booked: Lennon. Goals: Sutton 9, Petrov 17, Sutton 37 pen.
Referee: H Dallas (Scotland).
