Partick Thislte 0 Celtic 2
A star of the present and one of the future stole the show from managerless Partick tonight as Martin O'Neill's next generation strolled into the quarter-final of the CIS Insurance Cup with a comfortable victory at Firhill.
Teenage striker Craig Beattie illustrated just why Tottenham were chasing him in the summer and that he could be the long-term replacement for Henrik Larsson with an impressive performance which was capped by a clinical first-half finish.
Jamie Smith's second-half strike killed off their Glasgow neighbours but that came after skipper Paul Lambert had played 77 minutes to put himself into contention for a starting place against Lyon in next Wednesday's final Champions League Group A showdown.
The Scotland midfielder had not played since injuring his ankle for Scotland in September but he was surrounded by youngsters tonight. Many felt a shock was on the cards from the moment the teams were announced with David Marshall, Stephen Crainey, Shaun Maloney and John Kennedy also in the starting line-up.
But Celtic's young stars started brightly while the men from Firhill looked as though they were lost without the guidance of Gerry Collins after his sacking on Sunday. Jean-Yves Anis had to head an in-swinging corner from Maloney off his line before the youngster curled a long-range free-kick over the crossbar in the fifth minute.
Beattie was almost in after eight minutes but he mis-controlled Maloney's through-ball much to the relief of Partick goalkeeper Kenny Arthur. The former Rangers trainee and strike partner Momo Sylla were causing the home side plenty of problems but they eventually came to life in the 18th minute when James Grady flicked on Anis' cross but Kenny Milne blazed high over the crossbar from 15 yards.
Anis then picked up the ball midway in the Celtic half and tried an audacious effort which was deflected past the post by on-loan Sunderland star Michael Gray. But Celtic took the lead in the 31st minute after a good passing move and mature piece of finishing from Beattie. Sylla fed the 19-year-old inside the box and he coolly steered the ball first-time around the hand of Arthur.
Beattie could - and should - have doubled his tally just two minutes later when Gray picked him out unmarked in the box but he headed straight at the Partick keeper. Celtic were the first to threaten after half-time as Kennedy picked out Beattie with a great ball down the right flank and Sylla got ahead of his marker but could only turn his cross past the upright.
Whyte was booked in the 51st minute for deliberate handball before the Partick defence was opened up again in the 55th minute, allowing Sylla too much room only for the player to fire wide of the upright from 10 yards. Celtic then conceded a free-kick just outside their area but former Parkhead midfielder John-Paul McBride's effort hit Gray and bounced to safety.
Lambert's night came to a premature end in the 71st minute as Steve Guppy stepped in but the midfielder had proved his fitness ahead of their Champions League showdown.
But Celtic did not need the presence of their inspirational skipper to see off the woeful Partick in the 75th minute. Sylla again turned provider with a weighted through-ball to Smith and he hit a first time shot beyond the outstretched hand of Arthur and into the bottom corner.
Beattie came within inches of scoring a wonder goal with six minutes remaining but his brilliant right-foot curler came back off the crossbar. Celtic's youngsters hardly broke sweat and they now face Hibernian at Easter Road on December 18th.
Draw for the semi-finals of the Scottish League Cup
Hibernian or Celtic v Rangers
Dundee v Livingston