Teenage striker Mark Burchill switched the focus from the departure of general manager Jock Brown to matters on the pitch with two goals as Celtic thrilled a 58,000 crowd.

The 18-year-old justified Jozef Venglos' decision to give him a place in the starting line-up, but Swede Henrik Larsson shared the limelight with a hat-trick.

The dramatic departure of Brown only hours before kick-off had threatened to overshadow the game.

But it had no adverse effect on the the players with Simon Donnelly also joining the goal spree against a Dundee side, who were reduced to ten men after only 19 minutes when Barry Smith was shown the red card.

Coach Venglos must have been delighted with his side's display, considering so many of his senior players were injured and they went into the match with third choice goalkeeper Andy McCondichie between the posts.

Celtic took the lead after only nine minutes when Burchill was floored in the penalty area by Gordon Hunter and Larsson scored from the spot.

Burchill's pace caused Dundee repeated problems and Smith was dismissed 10 minutes later by referee Stewart Dougal after bringing down the young front man - Larsson again stepping up to score from the spot.

Dundee replied with Eddie Annand pulling a goal back two minutes later after being released by Jim McInally.

But that was as good as it got for the visitors as Burchill restored Celtic's two-goal advantage in the 27th minute with a cracking shot into the corner.

Larsson should have completed his hat-trick a minute after the break only to knock the ball wide of the post from a good position after Jackie McNamara had played the ball through.

There was no respite for Dundee, however, with Burchill adding his second 10 minutes after the break after Phil O'Donnell had played the ball across the penalty area.

Larsson eventually achieved his treble in the 59th minute when he nodded home after Lubomir Moravcik swept in a superb cross with the outside of his boot.

Donnelly completed the rout in the 66th minute when he chested down a ball from McNamara and flicked it into the corner.

Celtic could have added to the tally with Burchill firing over the top and Dundee's Willie Falconer hitting his own bar with a header.

Burchill was replaced by Brattbakk with only four minutes to go and was given a hero's reception by the fans. It was just the result Celtic needed following their UEFA Cup defeat by FC Zurich in midweek.

Celtic: McCondichie, Boyd, McNamara, Larsson, O'Donnell, Donnelly, Lambert, McKinlay, Moravcik, Burchill, Riseth. Subs: Brattbakk, Jackson, Hannah, McBride, Crossley.

Dundee: Douglas, Smith, Irvine, Anderson, Annand, McInally, Falconer, McSkimming, Miller, Rae, Hunter. Subs: Raeside, Grant, Magee, Coyne, Langfield.