Leigh Griffiths scored his 50th and 51st goal for Celtic in a rout of beleaguered Dundee United at Tannadice.
The striker opened the scoring with a low drive midway through the first half.
Jozo Simunovic made it two soon after from a close-range header.
United threatened to make a game of it when Simon Murray made it 2-1 before half-time, but Griffiths scored the third before Kris Commons volleyed home a stunning fourth.
The win puts the champions six points clear of Aberdeen at the top, while United remain 11 points adrift at the bottom.
To make matters worse for United, some home supporters set off smoke bombs early in the evening, a mind-bending act of stupidity given that pyrotechnics have been such a talking point during the week.
Celtic were in the mood for this, no question. Even before Griffiths scored his first, they had chances.
When the striker took advantage of a slip from Gavin Gunning and rifled his shot under Eiji Kawashima you could have written off United there and then.
Kris Commons volleys in a fourth goal for Celtic
Mixu Paatelainen's team don't have a reputation for clawing themselves out of adversity. That was Griffiths' 50th for his club, a feat he marked by whipping off his jersey to reveal the magic number of goals he's scored for Celtic.
He got booked for his troubles. It hardly mattered because seven minutes later, Celtic's night got even better, and United's ever more desperate, when Kawashima came flying off his line to deal with a Celtic corner only to miss the ball by a veritable mile.
From his spot, roughly a yard from goal, Simunovic nodded Celtic into a handsome lead.
United rallied and created a fine team goal, which Murray finished off from John Souttar's through ball. The visitors became a little ragged in its aftermath, but as soon as the new half kicked-off they restored themselves to total dominance.
Griffiths' back-post effort beat an unconvincing Kawashima for the third only a few minutes into the second half. United were being over-run and when the fourth came it was swift and sweet.
Scott Fraser lost possession and Tom Rogic clipped his cross into Commons' air-space. The midfielder's finish was something special, a flying hitch-kick that sent the ball whizzing past Kawashima in a yellow blur.
United were denied a penalty when James Forrest handled in the box, but by then their players didn't even have the heart to raise much of a protest.
Celtic should have scored again, but it would have been mere decoration. They had long since played United out of the contest. Soon, you have to say, United will be played out of the league.
Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)
Dundee United
- 01 Kawashima
- 12 McGowan
- 02 Dillon
- 19 Gunning Booked
- 20 Spittal
- 04 Souttar (Paton - 82' )
- 22 Fraser
- 08 Rankin
- 03 Dixon
- 15 Murray (Erskine - 73' )
- 25 Riski (Dow - 64' )
Substitutes
- 06 Paton
- 11 Erskine
- 14 Dow
- 16 Telfer
- 24 Spark
- 28 Donaldson
- 51 Zwick
Celtic
- 01 Gordon
- 23 Lustig
- 04 Ambrose
- 05 Simunovic
- 63 Tierney (Izaguirre - 78' )
- 42 McGregor
- 25 Johansen
- 15 Commons
- 18 Rogic (Forrest - 60' )
- 14 Armstrong (Allan - 69' )
- 09 Griffiths Booked
Substitutes
- 03 Izaguirre
- 07 Ciftci
- 19 Allan
- 24 Cole
- 26 Bailly
- 34 O'Connell
- 49 Forrest
Match Stats
Live Text Commentary
Full Time Match ends, Dundee United 1, Celtic 4.
90:00 +3:07 Full timeFull Time Second Half ends, Dundee United 1, Celtic 4.
90:00 +2:49Scott Fraser (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90:00 +2:49Foul by Callum McGregor (Celtic).
90:00 +2:35Foul by Jozo Simunovic (Celtic).
90:00 +2:35Scott Fraser (Dundee United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
90:00 +1:39Attempt saved. Scott Fraser (Dundee United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
90:00 +0:27Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
88:27Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Jozo Simunovic.
87:26Scott Allan (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
87:26Foul by John Rankin (Dundee United).
86:09Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
85:28Foul by Mikael Lustig (Celtic).
85:28Paul Dixon (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
84:38Attempt missed. Blair Spittal (Dundee United) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the right.
84:13Foul by James Forrest (Celtic).
84:13Ryan McGowan (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82:55Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Mikael Lustig.
82:19Foul by Mikael Lustig (Celtic).
82:19Gavin Gunning (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution Substitution, Dundee United. Paul Paton replaces John Souttar because of an injury.
80:27Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Callum McGregor.
79:26Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
77:14 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Celtic. Emilio Izaguirre replaces Kieran Tierney because of an injury.
75:27Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Kieran Tierney.
75:10Foul by Scott Allan (Celtic).
75:10Scott Fraser (Dundee United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
73:52Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
72:56 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Dundee United. Chris Erskine replaces Simon Murray because of an injury.
69:15Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high following a corner.
68:41 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Celtic. Scott Allan replaces Stuart Armstrong.
68:18Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Gavin Gunning.
66:42Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
63:23 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Dundee United. Ryan Dow replaces Riku Riski.
63:04Foul by Kieran Tierney (Celtic).
63:04Scott Fraser (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
62:26Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
60:00John Souttar (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
59:59Foul by Stuart Armstrong (Celtic).
59:25 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Celtic. James Forrest replaces Tomas Rogic.
55:55 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Dundee United 1, Celtic 4. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the top left corner. Assisted by Stuart Armstrong.
54:30Corner, Celtic. Conceded by John Souttar.
54:13Attempt missed. Callum McGregor (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is just a bit too high.
52:58Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Eiji Kawashima.
52:42Attempt saved. Callum McGregor (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
50:38Attempt missed. Gavin Gunning (Dundee United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
47:57 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Dundee United 1, Celtic 3. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mikael Lustig.
47:10Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Eiji Kawashima.
46:44Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
46:18 BookingBooking Gavin Gunning (Dundee United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
46:12Stefan Johansen (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
46:12Foul by Gavin Gunning (Dundee United).
45:42Attempt blocked. Gavin Gunning (Dundee United) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is blocked.
45:14Foul by Jozo Simunovic (Celtic).
45:14Scott Fraser (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
45:00Second Half begins Dundee United 1, Celtic 2.
45:00 +1:05 Half timeHalf Time First Half ends, Dundee United 1, Celtic 2.
45:00 +0:37Kieran Tierney (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
45:00 +0:37Foul by Blair Spittal (Dundee United).
43:59Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Efe Ambrose.
41:31Tomas Rogic (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
41:31Foul by John Souttar (Dundee United).
38:27Foul by Stuart Armstrong (Celtic).
38:27Scott Fraser (Dundee United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
37:42Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Gavin Gunning.
37:27Attempt blocked. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
36:45Tomas Rogic (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
36:45Foul by John Rankin (Dundee United).
36:13Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Callum McGregor.
32:56Attempt missed. Simon Murray (Dundee United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
31:33Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Gavin Gunning.
31:11Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Gavin Gunning.
30:11 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Dundee United 1, Celtic 2. Simon Murray (Dundee United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by John Souttar.
26:18 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Dundee United 0, Celtic 2. Jozo Simunovic (Celtic) header from very close range to the top right corner. Assisted by Kris Commons with a cross following a set piece situation.
25:50Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
25:50Foul by Ryan McGowan (Dundee United).
25:17Foul by Kieran Tierney (Celtic).
25:17Scott Fraser (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
23:10Corner, Celtic. Conceded by John Souttar.
22:00 BookingBooking Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.
20:29 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Dundee United 0, Celtic 1. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Stefan Johansen.
16:06Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Kieran Tierney.
14:55Attempt missed. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
13:24Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
13:24Ryan McGowan (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
12:37Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
12:37John Rankin (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
10:32Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Paul Dixon.
8:03Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
6:41Attempt missed. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
5:48Foul by Blair Spittal (Dundee United).
5:48Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
4:53Attempt missed. Scott Fraser (Dundee United) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
0:43Mikael Lustig (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
0:43Foul by Riku Riski (Dundee United).
0:00First Half begins.
0:00Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
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