Scottish League Cup third round / Patrick Thistle  Celtic 2: A virtually unrecognisable Celtic team coasted through to a Scottish League Cup quarter-final meeting with Hibernian in Edinburgh and a potential semi-final against holders and arch-rivals Rangers, who beat them in last year's final.

Last night, players such as Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton, Neil Lennon, John Hartson and Stilian Petrov were among those missing from Martin O'Neill's team, but goals from Craig Beattie and Jamie Smith ensured the Parkhead side were still much too strong for managerless Partick Thistle.

Teenage striker Beattie illustrated just why Tottenham were chasing him in the summer and that he could be the long-term replacement for Larsson with an impressive performance which was capped by a clinical first-half finish.

Even with eight changes from the weekend match between these sides, Celtic set about this tie with some relish.

The young players, along with club captain Paul Lambert trying to prove his fitness ahead of next week's Champions League game against Lyon, showed real enthusiasm.

Unfortunately, it was not matched by the size of the crowd. The stay-away fans may even have been good judges because, for all the enthusiasm, there was precious little football.

Celtic started the better and a Shaun Maloney free-kick went close, while Beattie's first touch let him down when he was in a good position.

As for Thistle, it was 18 minutes before they ventured forward with any purpose and the end result was Kenny Milne sent a Jean-Yves Anis cross soaring over the bar.

Then, just after the half-hour, Celtic took the lead, after an attack that promised little until Momo Sylla spotted Beattie in space and the young striker steered a clever shot beyond Kenny Arthur.

That raised the tempo of the game and Beattie immediately tested Arthur with a header from a Michael Gray cross.

For the most part, though, the football on show was dire.

Celtic rallied for a late burst of activity and, after 75 minutes, went 2-0 up. Sylla was again the architect as he sliced open the Firhill defence with a fine pass and Smith did the rest with a good finish.

Guardian Service

PARTICK THISTLE: Arthur, Anis, Lilley, Whyte, Murray, Milne, McBride (Howie 85), Andy Ross, Fleming (Taylor 82), Mitchell, Grady (Gemmell 77). Subs Not Used: Budinauckas, Madaschi. Booked: Lilley.

CELTIC: Marshall, Kennedy, Gray, McNamara (Laursen 78), Mjallby, Crainey, Smith, Lambert (Guppy 71), Maloney, Beattie, Sylla. Subs Not Used: Hedman, Miller, Varga. Booked: Beattie. Goals: Beattie 31, Smith 75.

Referee: M McCurry (Scotland).