Celtic hardly had to break sweat as they strolled to another easy victory.
Despite the lacklustre start the home side were two up within the half an hour through goals by John Hartson and Henrik Larsson which were more than enough to see off a weak Dundee United side.
There were no more goals in a poor second half and Celtic were content to sit on their lead and the visitors lacked the guile to mount any sort of threat.
After an Insipid opening, Celtic at last found their rhythm and Stilian Petrov's shot from Larsson's pass was well saved by Paul Gallacher. Hartson was crowded out before Larsson was denied as Celtic stepped up the pressure.
United were forced further and further back and had a narrow escape when Stuart Duff cleared a Larsson header off the line. However their good fortune was short lived as Celtic opened the scoring.
From wide on the left Jamie Smith curled in a cross which eluded Gary Bollan, leaving Hartson with the easiest of chances to head home from no more than six yards.
Shortly after Johan Mjallby limped off with what looked like a return of his groin strain, Celtic increased their lead with the slick goal.
A number of first-time passes involving Petrov and Chris Sutton ended with Larsson sidefooting the ball home from ten yards.
United had Andy Tod on for the start of the second half and at least looked interested in pushing forward after a first-half display when they had never threatened Magnus Hedman in the Celtic goal.
Petrov saw his shot blocked before Smith, who had a sparkling game wide on the left for the home team, pulled his shot narrowly wide.
Hartson headed over from a Petrov free-kick before Larsson wasted a free-kick from just outside the area after Sutton was fouled.
The visitors passed up a wonderful chance to get back in the match when Derek Lilley's lay-off put sub Stephen O'Donnell, through on goal but the youngster showed his inexperience by blazing over.