For Celtic, this was a perfectly-scripted warm-up. Having polished off United inside half an hour, confidence was suitably boosted without the need for over-exertion ahead of their Hampden date this Sunday.
A first away victory in seven SPL attempts ticked off one annoying stat before league business was formally concluded for another year. A second successive clean sheet — with eight goals spread across their last two outings — also provided evidence the champions are returning to peak form in time for their Scottish Cup Final showdown against Hibernian.
Indeed, aspects of this canter to victory provided ominous warnings for the Easter Road outfit as both clubs now intensify their preparations for the season-closing showpiece.
By George: Samaras was the star of the show for Celtic MATCH FACTSDundee United: Cierzniak, Souttar, McLean, Daly, Rankin (Gauld 62), Millar, Flood, Douglas, Armstrong, Mackay-Steven (Dow 87), Boulding (Russell 66).
Subs Not Used: Anderson, Ryan, Gardyne, Tornstrand.
Booked: Flood.
Celtic: Forster, Lustig, Wilson, Ambrose, Izaguirre, McCourt (Rogic 68), Brown, Ledley, Commons (Stokes 68), Samaras (Atajic 83), Hooper.
Subs Not Used: Zaluska, Gershon, Fisher, McGeouch.
Goals: Commons 11, Samaras 17, 27, Stokes 85.
Attendance: 8,717
Referee: John Beaton (Scotland).
Ten of the starting XI Neil Lennon selected yesterday would have high hopes of running out at the national stadium, with the participation of Paddy McCourt — given what might well be a farewell appearance at Tannadice — somewhat more doubtful.
It was a strong-looking selection that contained a couple of star turns. Not for the first time this season, Kris Commons was a devastating influence for Lennon’s side. The Scotland international had scored doubles on his previous two meetings with United — including the epic Scottish Cup semi-final triumph — and he continued in similarly merciless form.
A goal and two assists for the equally-impressive Georgios Samaras within the opening 27 minutes left Celtic’s hosts demoralised and defeated.
Lennon was able to withdraw that menacing pair early enough to allow their legs to benefit, with Anthony Stokes among those introduced from the bench. The Irishman duly added a fourth before the end to add extra sheen to the scoreline as Celtic secured a 16-point winning margin in the SPL.
While they were able to savour their last league engagement, this was a dispiriting day for United boss Jackie McNamara and his charges. Jon Daly made his final appearance before moving to Rangers — a switch that ensured he got stick from the Celtic fans — with the future of several other first-team players far from certain.
Opener: Kris Commons curls home a free-kickThe Tannadice club have announced the signing of Raith Rovers striker Brian Graham — joining fellow First Division recruits Paul Paton and Chris Erskine — and further wheeling and dealing is likely to await McNamara this summer.
He would undoubtedly have been disappointed at the lack of resistance his side showed yesterday. The element of competition in this match was swiftly dispelled as Celtic punctured the United defence twice in quick succession.
The initial blow was landed after just 11 minutes when Commons was fouled by Daly around 22 yards from goal.
Commons simply whipped a low finish around the ineffective wall and into the net.
The Scotland man fancied repeating the trick as soon as possible. Two minutes later, Barry Douglas fouled McCourt on the right and Commons fizzed in another left-foot daisycutter. This one was again destined for the net before Radoslaw Cierzniak extended his fingertips to touch the ball on to his right-hand post.
New boy: Former Raith Rovers striker Brian Graham is paraded at half timeThat impressive stop was, however, merely a case of delaying the inevitable. McCourt fed Commons and he swept the ball to Samaras on the left fringe of the penalty area. The Greek international cut infield before hitting a shot that looped high off teenage defender John Souttar and dropped into the net.
United were in utter disarray, so it was no surprise that McNamara decided to abandon the experimental back three with which he had started the game. Yet, the switch to a more orthodox defensive set-up wasn’t enough to stem the tide of opportunities for the visitors.
Samaras ran the ball into the net from a glorious long pass by McCourt, only to be denied by an offside flag from assistant referee George Drummond. Gary Hooper was then only narrowly off target after letting fly from 30 yards before Commons did the same.
Treble: Georgios Samaras (third left) heads Celtic into a 3-0 leadThe Tannadice outfit finally managed to pose a threat of their own after 25 minutes when Rory Boulding was released. He was, however, thwarted by Fraser Forster, with the Celtic goalkeeper then reacting well to keep out Mark Millar’s pot-shot from distance.
Two minutes later, United found themselves 3-0 down. Again, it was a case of Lennon’s men maximising the punishment dished out for fouls against them.
Millar was penalised for toppling Hooper wide on the right and Commons once more took charge of the situation. His fine free-kick towards the far post had a queue of four Celtic players waiting to finish, but it was Samaras who got there first to nod home his second of the afternoon.
Season of good cheer: Lennon salutes the Celtic fans after the game
United did settle somewhat ahead of the interval — with Brian McLean heading a Douglas corner wide under pressure from Samaras — but the half-time whistle still came as a blessed relief for McNamara as he tried to reinvigorate his charges.
It was a forlorn aim. Celtic operated within themselves during the second period but still could have increased their lead by a greater margin. Samaras drilled a cross-shot towards the far post, where Hooper practically stumbled the ball into the net. For the second time in the afternoon, though, the Parkhead outfit were denied by an offside flag.
Cierzniak then did brilliantly to claw a Joe Ledley header out from under the bar before United had a brief rally at the opposite end.
Substitute Johnny Russell set up Daly, but his volley was superbly thwarted by Forster. The former Newcastle United man then delivered similar treatment to a follow-up effort from Stuart Armstrong.
Celtic captain Scott Brown drew another fine save from Cierzniak as the game entered its final stages before Stokes completed the scoring in the 86th minute. The substitute showed good footwork inside the box but his strike deflected off Mark Millar to wrong-foot the helpless Cierzniak.
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