Celtic brought themselves to within two points of arch rivals Rangers after crushing Dunfermline 4-1.
But the truth is that but for the brilliance of replacement keeper Javier Sanchez Broto, they could have been 2-0 down before Henrik Larsson's 21st minute breakthrough.
The Spanish keeper had foiled as well worked move early on, blocking a powerful Gary Dempsey shot on the line.
In the 18th minute Dempsey's left-wing cross was nodded on by Lee Bullen to defender Scott Walker, whose header looked a certain goal until Broto threw himself across the goalmouth to punch the ball clear in spectacular fashion.
And then the roof caved in for Dunfermline, Within 11 minutes the game was finished as a contest.
First on the goal trail was that man Larsson who hammered the ball past Marco Ruitenbeek from a precision Stilian Petrov pass. Substitute Paul Lambert played a crucial role in the build-up to the goal putting the Bulgarian international through on the right wing.
Just seven minutes later it as the Swede's turn to set up Petrov. Larsson bamboozled the home defence with some exhibition juggling just outside the home penalty area. With his markers transfixed, Larsson sidefooted the ball to Petrov who crept up unhindered to thunder the ball home from 18 yards.
Petrov was on the scoresheet again within four minutes nodding in Didier Agathe's long high looping right-wing cross to put the Bhoys three up.
Celtic went further ahead from the penalty spot in the 59th minute as the visitors consolidated their advantage. Larsson had taken a Shaun Maloney pass into the penalty box where he was upended by Barry Nicholson.
The resulting penalty was converted by Alan Thompson.
The Pars grabbed a late consolation goal from debutant substitute Scott McNicol whose 80th minute shot cracked home off the underside of the crossbar.