By Sean Saranczuk
January 29 2003

John Hartson and Henrik Larsson scored two goals in four first-half minutes to help Celtic keep the heat on leaders Rangers with a 2-0 win over Dundee United. John Hartson and Henrik Larsson scored two goals in four first-half minutes to help Celtic keep the heat on leaders Rangers with a 2-0 win over Dundee United.

The Welshman bagged his 18th goal of the campaign and the Swede his 33rd to secure the points and increase bottom-of-the-table United's woes.

United made it difficult for Celtic in the opening minutes but the hosts carved out their first good opportunity in the 14th minute.

Sutton found Larsson with a good ball and he played the ball into the path of Stilian Petrov, whose first-time shot was saved at the second attempt by Paul Gallacher.

There was nothing that the visitors could do, however, to stop Celtic going ahead in the 26th minute and it came courtesy of some magic from youngster Jamie Smith, who marked his second consecutive appearance with a man-of-the match display.

He made himself space to whip an inviting cross into the box and Hartson had the easiest of headers down and past Gallacher from six yards.

Four minutes later, Sutton played the ball through to Petrov and he cleverly flicked the ball back into the path of Larsson to prod it past the advancing Gallacher.

Celtic took their foot off the gas, but Larsson almost gave the noticeably quiet home fans something to shout about when he headed Petrov's corner over the crossbar from six yards.

The Swede had another opportunity to double his tally in the 59th minute after Sutton was fouled just outside the box, but he curled his free-kick just wide.

The home side got a wake-up call in the 72nd minute when Derek Lilley played Jim McIntyre in, but with just Magnus Hedman to beat he panicked and fired over.