Celtic6

Dundee2

Scorers: Celtic - Larsson (14), Thompson (27, 30), Maloney (53, 63), Mjallby (77); Dundee - Smith (26), Mair (90+2)

When BBC Scotland secured the exclusive television rights for the Bank of Scotland Premierleague, they could never have imagined they would be buying into the most compelling Old Firm head-to-head since 1979.

If only the drama department at Queen Margaret Drive could produce the excitement, viewing figures, and value for money of this fascinating title race, then River City would be more popular than Eastenders.

There has not been such an engrossing conclusion to a campaign since television took over the national game a decade ago. Celtic are currently back in the driving seat following this rout of punch-drunk Dundee. But the way the Glasgow giants have responded to each other when one of them has upped the ante, we may have to wait until the final seconds of injury time on May 25 for the denouement.

Last midweek Celtic's dismantling of Motherwell suggested they would surely retain the championship trophy. But when their tired performance against Hearts was followed by an irresistible Rangers showing against Kilmarnock, it looked as though the flag might be heading back to Ibrox.

Now, though, following this filleting of the Tennent's Scottish Cup finalists, Dundee, who can say? Celtic are back on top, three points and two goals to the good, but anyone attempting to place a wager on which club will eventually prevail should be committed to an institution for the sake of their own well-being.

Not that it was all good news for the home side. Rab Douglas at least made it on to the bench but the continued absence of John Hartson is now a genuine cause for concern for the manager, Martin O'Neill, ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Cup final in Seville.

With Chris Sutton serving an untimely one-match suspension, Celtic's front line lacked its usual stature but the success enjoyed by Shaun Maloney and Henrik Larsson proved that size isn't everything.

The diminutive Scot combined with Larsson to carve out the first opening, unsettling the Dundee rearguard with some pleasingly old-fashioned trickery before sending in a driven cross which the inrushing Didier Agathe was inches away from converting.

Normal service was resumed in the 13th minute when Larsson broke the deadlock with his 199th goal for Celtic. The Dundee defence unaccountably failed to pick up the most dangerous player in the country when Alan Thompson lofted the ball into no-man's land and the Swede calmly took it round Julian Speroni before scoring.

That slackness was matched at the other end when Bobo Balde and Joos Valgaeren both failed to clear their lines, allowing Nacho Novo to cut the ball back for captain Barry Smith to sidefoot home from 15 yards.

Smith reacted in the manner of Denis Law when his strike for Manchester City confirmed Manchester United's relegation in 1974. Whether that was because he is a former Celt, or simply that this was only his second goal in 301 appearances, we may never know.

It was, though, no more than a hiccup. With Jonay Hernandez apparently under the impression that Agathe had been awarded the freedom of the city, Celtic rampaged forward relentlessly. Thompson restored their lead with a diving header and doubled it by volleying an Agathe cross into the ground and behind the hapless Speroni.

The fortitude Dundee displayed in their recent draw with Rangers was marked absent last night but, unfortunately for them, Lee Wilkie's comedy defending was not. Attempting to play the ball back to his goalkeeper, he merely teed up Maloney for a simple finish. The ineptitude continued when Dave Mackay, under no pressure, passed the ball to Thompson, who swept it inside for Maloney to curl home Celtic's fifth goal.

And still they pressed, probed and hustled. Johan Mjallby added another 13 minutes from time when Balde nodded an Agathe cross down for his fellow defender to sidefoot into the unguarded net.

Dundee barely managed to cross the halfway line during that second half but, when they did manage to break out, Celtic's back line looked far from comfortable. Novo twice found himself with only Javier Sanchez Broto to beat but he failed to direct a shot on target on either occasion.

In injury time, though, Lee Mair steered a near-post header from a Hernandez cross behind the Spaniard to take some of the gloss off the evening from Celtic's point of view. Precisely how costly the loss of that goal proves to be remains to be seen.

It was Celtic's final home match of the season - they complete their domestic season at Rugby Park - and O'Neill, looking almost as drained by the evening's events as the Dundee defenders, addressed his adoring public at the final whistle.

He saluted the ''phenomenal'' effort his players had shown before turning his attention to Wednesday's UEFA Cup final against Porto in Seville. Scottish football may never

see another season quite like this; we should savour it while we can.

Celtic (3-5-2) Broto; Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren; Agathe, Lambert, Petrov, Lennon, Thompson; Larsson, Maloney (Smith 82). Subs: Douglas, McNamara, Fernandez, Crainey

Booked Thompson

Dundee (4-3-3) Speroni; Mackay, Wilkie (Brady 69), Mair, Hernandez; Rae, Khizanishvili (Forbes 55), Smith; Novo, Burchill (Carranza 71), Milne. Subs: Langfield, Nemsadze.

Referee Tom Brown