GLASGOW (AFP) - Celtic remain on course for a second successive double after drubbing Dunfermline 3-0 in the Scottish Cup fourth round.
John Hartson put Celtic ahead in the eighth minute, with Chris Sutton adding a second two minutes later, before Hartson put the tie out of reach just before the break.
Hartson's fellow Wales international Craig Bellamy was absent with Celtic manager Martin O'Neill preferring not to risk his new loan-signing from Newcastle on Dunfermline's plastic pitch.
Bellamy, who has undergone a series of operations, is expected to turn out for the first time next week against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
The controversial striker's goal-scoring talents were hardly missed though in this tie at East End Park which was a repeat of last season's Cup final.
The visitors went into an early lead when Sutton slipped his marker to cross to Hartson who sidefooted the ball into the corner of Derek Stillie's net.
The Dunfermline defence barely had time to regroup before Hartson struck the woodwork, with Sutton pouncing on the rebound from close range. The game was killed off in the 43rd minute when Hartson bagged his double after Sutton knocked on a free kick from Alan Thompson.
Later Celtic boss O'Neill angrily hit out at Dunfermline chairman John Yorkston and called him "ignorant" after Yorkston claimed defender Bobo Balde had injured more players than the controversial East End Park playing surface.
"His comments are disgraceful," said O'Neill. "I think he should be hauled in front of the SFA because it is simply not true.
"It is a disgraceful comment about a player - you can't say that. We didn't hear it before the game and I'm pleased we didn't.
"It's an ignorant comment for someone to make and he has made one or two ignorant comments in the past."
Yorkston insisted that his comments on the BBC had been blown out of proportion.
"What I said was tongue in cheek," he said. "It was meant as a joke and everybody who heard the interview would have taken it as a joke.
"Are you not allowed to have a joke these days? It was said as a joke - simple as that."
In Saturday's action, Dundee United bounced back from their League Cup thrashing at the hands of Rangers by reaching the Scottish Cup quarter-finals with a 3-0 win over Queen of the South.
Steven Naismith scored a late equaliser to earn Kilmarnock a replay against Hearts with the score ending 2-2 while Darren Mackie scored twice as Aberdeen beat Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2-1.
Hibernian coasted into the quarter-finals with a brace from Garry O'Connor easing them past Second Division leaders Brechin City 4-0.
Ross County and Clyde must replay their fourth-round tie after a goalless draw at Victoria Park, Livingston beat Alloa 1-0 and St Mirren saw off Ayr 2-0.
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