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Celtic banish Dundee United demons with ruthless cup thumping as Duran opens Hoops account - 5 talking points Martin O'Neill's men netted twice in each half to stroll into the quarter finals of the Premier Sports Cup Celtic were left face down in the sand on their last trip to Tayside. Life was a beach this time though as Martin O’Neill’s men dished out a Premier Sports Cup drubbing against Dundee United. Camilo Duran opened his Hoops goal account with the second just 120 seconds after Auston Trusty nodded his side in front in a first half quick-fire double. Sebastian Tounekti tucked away the third after the break before Benjamin Nygren curled in number four to send Celts into the last 16. But it wasn’t as straightforward as it looked, though, with United hitting the woodwork an incredible FIVE times. Celts feared their time dream was over on the Tannadice sandpit back in March. But Martin O’Neill’s men haven’t lost in 10 games since and were lethal on the new slick grass surface this time. The Hoops rode their luck early on though. Julius Eskenen clattered the upright after finding space from a long throw and soon after Emmanuel Agyei smashed the same one after being teed up following a ropy pass out from Viljami Sinisalo. But they sparked to life and hit United with a quick-fire double. Trusty’s glancing header got them going before Duran bundled home moments later. The ball seemed to catch Hogh’s arm in the build up – but the Dane was being wrestled to the ground by Bert Esselink at the time. VAR let it go and wasn’t convinced by United’s shouts for a penalty moments later when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s arm was in the way at the other end. Goodwin’s men stayed in the fight and Zac Sapsford cracked the bar with a rocket from the edge of the box. But lethal Celts struck against with a quick counter when Hogh held up for Nygren to release Tounekti and the wide man slashed inside before finding the bottom corner. It was cruel on United and more bad luck followed when Esselink’s header scudded the bar. Mehdi Mergham did it as well at the death but more pain had been dished out by then when Nygren cutely curled in the fourth after a neat flick from Baur along the way left United all at sea. Here are Record Sport's five talking points from Tannadice. Off the mark Duran has been itching to get on the scoresheet and he got his reward at Tannadice when he pounced for the second goal. It was fully deserved after another class display from the Colombian. Duran is doing a job in a slightly unfamiliar role out on the right but he’s proving to be pretty handy at it. The former Qarabag player caused constant grief drifting inside from the flank and he had fans roaring with approval at his relentless work rate. O’Neill wants Duran to form a front two with Kasper Hogh once Hassan gets up and running but in the meantime the £6m man is doing the business wherever he starts. New faces The game as pretty much out of sight but Hoops fans lapped up their firth look at £16million newcomers Mika Baur and Haissem Hassan. Baur made an instant impression with a couple of very neat touches, including a lovely flick in the build-up to the fourth goal. The German doesn’t lack confidence, that’s for sure and if fitness isn’t an issue then he’s given O’Neill something to think about for Europe this week. Hassan also got his first taste, coming on for the final 20 minutes. The Egypt World Cup ace is a little behind in terms of his pre-season but was keen to catch the eye with some flashy footwork late on. LASK orders O’Neill will have been thrilled to get through this tie without too much stress. But the pressure is on with the Champions League play-off up next. Resting Kieran Tierney paid off but departing Arne Engels and injured Alistair Johnston will be a miss. He could do with Yang Hyun-jun making it too. O’Neill will be delighted with Hogh and Duran clicking, Baur and Hassan getting a taste. But it was Benjamin Nygren and Sebastian Tounekti who drove the win on Tayside. Nygren was involved in all four goals, including his own, while Tounekti’s finish and all-round display has the cutting edge he needs. It’s a couple of big positives going into the crunch clash with LASK. Ox tale The former Liverpool and Arsenal ace enjoyed a rare start on Tayside. He might not have the same energy or running power as Engels, but he does have quality on the ball. Oxlade-Chamberlain rarely looked stressed and moved the ball around neatly at times, while providing the cross on the way to the second before going off on the hour. Some fans have been wondering what his role would be this season but it looks like the experienced campaigner might not play every week, though he’ll be slotting in when needed. O’Neill will be frustrated that he’s banned for Europe this week from his time with Besiktas. Dis-United Goodwin was cursing his side’s luck but he will also have been fuming at how easy his men made it for Celtic with their goals. United put the Hoops under periods of pressure and were unlucky with all those efforts off the woodwork and a couple of calls. But they were undone by slackness at the back. It was a similar story against Hearts the previous week having looked so solid against Rangers in the opener. Goodwin will need a repeat of the Gers display in next weekend’s big Derby showdown.