CHRIS Erskine channelled the frustrations of the previous 12 months as Partick Thistle continued their productive start to the new season. Victory in this Glasgow derby against League One Queen's Park sees the Maryhill side qualify as seeds for the last 16 of the BetFred Cup, with the kind of 100% record which will be the envy of Kilmarnock, St Mirren and Ross County, all of whom have won this trophy in the last five years but have not found the new format to their liking.

Partick's progress is due in no small part to Erskine, who scored his second goal in three starts at the beginning of his third stint at the club, then gained an assist with a dead-eyed corner for Liam Lindsay's late clincher. It all marks a welcome reversal of fortunes for a player who was dogged by a pelvic problem in early season at Dundee United then was trusted to start just three matches post-January after agreeing a pre-contract to return to Maryhill this summer.

"I’m just happy to play again," said Erskine. "And two goals from three games is a nice way to come back. I came here just wanting a good season after what happened last year up at United but these things drive you on. I didn’t play anywhere near the amount of games I thought I would with my injury - then signing a pre-contract with Thistle changed things for me up the road. Now I just want to get back to enjoying my football and I feel like I’m doing that now."

With wins against Airdrieonians, Queen of the South and Stenhousemuir under their belts, Thistle kicked off with the knowledge that a point would be sufficient to qualify for the next phase. Their opponents in this Glasgow derby against League One Queen's Park included one of their own, David Galt, a man who works by day with Thistle's charity trust where he regularly coaches Alan Archibald's children. The Spiders had won one and lost two, one of them on penalties, thus far.

Archibald is the third-longest serving manager in Scottish senior football, and the longest-serving in the top flight, and on this evidence Thistle seem set fair for another productive season under his watch. Even without Christie Elliott, Gary Fraser, Abdul Osman and Stuart Bannigan, there was much to admire about the way they set about things here, even if it was the visitors who carved out the first chance. Ross Millen flashed over a cross from the right wing and Aiden Malone's header was scrambled clear by Tomas Cerny.

The opening goal arrived within seconds - at the other end. Sean Welsh's speared long pass over the top was perfect for the run of the rangy Erskine, who nodded the ball cleverly beyond the stranded Andrew Murphy.

Cerny had to look lively to defy an Adam Cummins header and a fine individual effort from Joshua Watt but Thistle generally had this match in a stranglehold. Kris Doolan saw a strike tipped away as half time approached then, after the re-start, David Wilson spurned a glorious opportunity after some fine work between Erskine and substitute David Amoo.

Thistle would end the match with a powerful, muscular look to them, with Amoo being joined in the forward areas by Ade Azeez - recruited this summer from AFC Wimbledon - and Mathias Pogba - brother of soon-to-be Manchester United record signing Paul. Azeez was defied by the bar, and an incredible Murphy save, and Amoo also went close but the all important second goal arrived with a dominant Liam Lindsay header from a corner from man of the match Erskine.

"Gus [MacPherson] is a good manager, he makes Queen's Park hard to play against," said Archibald, whose side face Inverness first up on league duty next week. "We are delighted to get that victory and delighted to be seeded in the next round. But the real stuff on which we will be judged starts next week."