Celtic striker John Hartson helped himself to a deadly double to send the Tennent's Scottish Cup holders into the fifth round of the competition at Dunfermline's expense - and steal the headlines from Craig Bellamy.

Controversial striker Bellamy has been the talk of Celtic following his loan move after a spat with Graeme Souness at Newcastle.

Having been left out through fear of reigniting his past knee injury problems, his Wales team-mate Hartson crashed through the 20-goal barrier for the season.

Hartson's current strike partner Chris Sutton also scored as the Hoops ran out easy winners at East End Park.

With the two strikers in this form, Bellamy will have to fight for his place in the side, or even have to start in his unpreferred place on the wing.

O'Neill did hand January-signing Stephane Henchoz his debut but had to play out of position in an unaccustomed full-back role as he replaced Jackie McNamara, and his defence was under pressure early on.

After just 20 seconds Robert Douglas came charging out of his box only to miss his kick but Dunfermline were - not for the first time - too slow to capitalise.

Under-fire manager Davie Hay not surprisingly made three changes from the team which slumped to defeat at Inverness last week with Scott Wilson, Darren Young and Greg Ross coming in for Aaron Labonte, Gary Dempsey and Noel Hunt.

But their hopes of springing a cup shock went up in smoke as early as the eighth minute when the visitors went ahead with their very first real attack.

Aiden McGeady played the ball to Sutton, who shrugged off his marker to fire the ball low across the face of goal for Hartson to sidefoot it into the corner of the net with Andrius Skerla found wanting and Derek Stillie cruelly exposed.

The game was effectively over just two minutes later when the Dunfermline defence were once again punished for more slack play.

Hartson crashed the ball against the woodwork with Stillie well beaten and Sutton reacted quicker than the home side to force the rebound home from close range.

Stillie was kept busy all afternoon, and on the 22nd-minute mark when he threw himself to his left to keep out Alan Thompson's free-kick from 30 yards.

The Pars' stopper again came to his rescue on the half-hour when rejuvenated defender Ulrik Laursen put Thompson through with a great ball over the top of the bemused Ross, but the goalkeeper kept the midfielder's low left-foot shot out with his feet.

But the game was over a minute before the break when Hartson emphatically fired home after Sutton had flicked on Thompson's free-kick for his 21st goal of the campaign.

The half-time whistle sparked a chorus of boos from the home fans so Hay responded by bringing on striker Hunt for midfielder Young.

Jesper Christiansen could have finally given Douglas something to do in the 50th minute but he blazed into the crowd from the edge of the area.

Hay made another change in the 53rd minute when he brought on new signing Georgi Hristov for Scott Wilson to at least ask questions of the Celtic defence.

Referee Charlie Richmond showed the first yellow card of the day to Ross for tripping Laursen before Juninho was introduced for the limping Thompson to a good Celtic reception.

But Tod was lucky not to be sent off on the hour when Celtic broke away and the Dunfermline man seemed to handle Sutton's cross with Hartson waiting alone in the centre.

Bobo Balde, who signed a new contract in midweek, was the next man booked for bringing down Hristov as Dunfermline chased a consolation.

Hartson was booked for dissent before Douglas made a great save from Christiansen's header with his own defence uncharacteristically as slack as their opponents.

Stillie pulled off a wonderful finger-tip save from Sutton in the 78th minute when he threw himself in the air to touch his header over from Wallace's cross.

Hunt then crashed a header off the crossbar having been picked out by former Rangers man Barry Nicholson.

But the contest was over a long time ago thanks to the firepower of Hartson and Sutton - with Bellamy nowhere to be seen until maybe next time.

Teams

Dunfermline (0) 0 Celtic (3) 3

Dunfermline Stillie, Darren Young (Hunt 45), Scott Wilson (Hristov 54), Skerla, Scott Thomson, Nicholson, Mason, Makel, Ross, Christiansen, Tod.

Subs Not Used: Langfield, Donnelly, Campbell.

Booked: Ross.

Celtic Douglas, Henchoz, Balde, Varga, Laursen, Petrov (Lambert 77), Lennon, Thompson (Juninho Paulista 57), McGeady, Sutton, Hartson (Wallace 75).

Subs Not Used: Marshall, McManus.

Booked: Balde, Hartson.

Goals: Hartson 8, Sutton 10, Hartson 43.

Att: 8,014

Ref: C Richmond (Scotland).