CELTIC could be crowned champions of Scotland for the fourth season in succession without so much as kicking a ball this afternoon after this clinical dismantling of Dundee at Parkhead last night.

If their nearest challengers Aberdeen fail to beat Dundee United at Tannadice today, Celtic will be out of sight at the top of the SPFL Premiership table and will therefore retain their title with three games to spare.

The recent form of both Derek McInnes's side - who are now 11 points adrift with four league games remaining - and Jackie McNamara's team strongly suggests an away victory is likely.

If that is the case, then we would face the delicious prospect of Ronny Deila's side finally clinching the silverware at the home of their main rivals a week tomorrow. A draw at Pittodrie would mean that Celtic would be eight points clear with two games remaining.

There can, though, be little doubt the Norwegian's charges will prevail after this polished performance against a well-organised and resilient Dundee outfit that has impressed in the top flight this term.

Celtic exhibited many of the qualities which have made them the dominant force in the country: composed defending, tenacity in midfield and inventive attacking in an assured display and whetted the appetite of their fans for the celebrations to come.

The visitors were greatly disadvantaged by the absence of Greg Stewart, who was yesterday named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year and is hoping to be crowned PFA Scotland Player of the Year tomorrow night, due to a one match ban.

The 25-year-old striker was suspended after being sent off for two bookable offences in his side's 2-0 defeat to their Tayside rivals St. Johnstone at Dens Park last Saturday.

Elsewhere, Paul McGowan was also unavailable for altogether different reasons; the game kicked off 45 minutes after the seven o'clock curfew that has been imposed on him following his conviction for assaulting a police officer last month.

Being shorn of the services of a man who has netted 15 goals in all competitions this term and an individual who has been a first team regular was always going to be keenly felt by Dundee and so it proved.

Hartley responded to a performance six days earlier that he had described as his team's worst of the 2014/15 campaign by making no fewer than four changes. David Clarkson and Paul Heffernan were dropped and Simon Ferry, Stephen McGinn, Alex Harris and Luka Tankulic were given a start.

Tankulic, the 23-year-old German, was selected to play as a lone forward. He was isolated from Ferry, Harris, McAlister, Stephen McGinn and Kevin Thomson, who packed the midfield and concentrated mainly on containing their opponents, behind him and failed to trouble Jason Denayer and Virgil van Dijk. He managed to get a low long-range shot on target away in 34 minutes. Craig Gordon, though, gathered it comfortably.

Deila, meanwhile, made two changes to the side that had cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Dundee United at Tannadice on Sunday. Efe Ambrose took over from Adam Matthews at right-back, while Gary Mackay-Steven replaced Stuart Armstrong on the left side of midfield.

John Guidetti, who was censured by the SFA on Thursday after being found guilty by a disciplinary panel of making an offensive comment about Rangers in an interview with Dutch television back in March, took up a place on the bench.

The Swede was given a warm reception by the Celtic supporters who were seated in the Jock Stein Stand when he was sent out to warm up behind the goal with his fellow replacements during the first half. He was also treated to a spontaneous rendition of "there's only one John Guidetti".

Leigh Griffiths, who had netted his second hat-trick in four games against United, broke through on goal in 22 minutes and was only prevented from getting a shot away by a fine saving tackle from Thomas Konrad. It was a taste of what was to come from the in-form striker.

Referee Bobby Madden dismissed what looked to be strong claims for a penalty after 27 minutes when Thomson appeared to bring down Stefan Johansen clumsily. The home team soon edged in front from open play.

Emilio Izaguirre lofted a cross into the Dundee area on the half hour mark and Griffiths timed his run into meet it perfectly. He was given time and space by Konrad and headed emphatically beyond the exposed Scott Bain from the penalty spot.

Scott Brown put his side two ahead in the 37th minute after linking well with Kris Commons. The Celtic captain shrugged aside the attentions of both Konrad and Paul McGinn and dinked the ball into the bottom right corner.

The home team continued to be untroubled by their rivals in the second half. Sensing that victory was assured, Deila gave Darnell Fisher and James Forrest some game time when he made a double substitution in 65 minutes. Ambrose and Johansen made way respectively. They were to prove inspired changes as both men were involved in Celtic's third and fourth goals.

Fisher won his side a penalty in the 71st minute when he surged forward and was hauled down by Stephen McGinn. Commons stepped up to take it and sent Bain the wrong way with a powerfully struck effort into the side netting.

Scorer turned provider in the 77th minute. Commons supplied Forrest and the winger advanced upfield with Dundee left back Willie Dyer tracking him. He buried his shot with ease to send the Celtic supporters into party mode.

Nir Bitton rounded off the rout with two minutes remaining with the best goal of the bunch. The Israeli tried his lucky from fully 40 yards out. Incredibly, the ball sailed into the net off the inside of the right post.