Scottish Cup fourth round: Holders Celtic beat Kilmarnock as Aberdeen, Hibs go through, Livingston surprise Ross County | Football news
Celtic began their defense of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup with a 2-1 win in the fourth round against a spirited Kilmarnock side at Parkhead.
Killie goalkeeper Robby McCrorie was injured with less than a minute to play and had to be replaced by Kieran O’Hara, who was beaten by Celtic captain Callum McGregor’s long-range shot in the 12th minute.
The holders should have extended their lead after that but were caught off guard in first-half stoppage time when teenage Rugby Park striker Bobby Wales equalized from close range.
Celtic stepped up the pressure after the break and Daizen Maeda scored in the 70th minute, but they were unable to overcome Derek McInnes’ side, who held to a draw until the final whistle.
Aberdeen ended their long winless streak and progressed to the fifth round with a comfortable win over the 10-man League 2 side Elgin.
After a shaky start, Shayden Morris calmed any Dons nerves with a low finish from Duk’s pass and Duk himself found the net twice in the second half to seal victory against a home side that saw Lyall Booth sent off after 75 minutes.
Martin Boyle continued to score goals to help Hibernian reach the fifth round of the Scottish Cup with a comfortable 3-0 win Clydebank.
The Australian international – who has notched a brace in each of his last three games – broke the deadlock in two minutes.
However, West of Scotland Premier League leaders Clydebank dug in and Hibs had to wait until the start of the second period to extend their lead.
That goal came through Rudi Molotnikov before Boyle added his second.
Hibs fans were further cheered when Kieron Bowie came off the bench to make his first appearance since suffering a hamstring injury in September.
Andrew Shinnie scored the late winner as Livingston astonished Ross County to knock them out. His winner in the 119th minute led to the first big shock in the fourth round.
It has been six years since County won a game in the competition, their last success being a 2-1 win over Motherwell in January 2019.
A clinical early double set by Toyosi Olusanya St Mirren en route to a 3-1 away win Queen of the south.
The Englishman scored in the 10th and 21st minutes to take his tally for the season to 10 goals and put the Premiership side ahead in the tie at Palmerston Park.
Brennan Dickenson brought the League One hosts back into contention with a goal in the 75th minute, but the Saints – after a few nervous moments – sealed their progress to the last 16 with a stoppage-time goal from substitute Caolan Boyd-Munce.
Makenzie Kirk scored an early goal St Johnstone the fans cheered up much needed with a knockout in the cup Motherwell without the visitors striking a blow.
Kirk pounced on the rebound in the ninth minute to record St Johnstone’s first goal of the tournament since Shaun Rooney headed home the winner in the 2021 final against Hibernian. Since then they have lost to Kelty Hearts, Rangers and Airdrie in the fourth round.
Kirk’s goal proved enough to send the Saints into the fifth round with a 1-0 win and end a nine-game winless streak that saw them drop nine points in the Premiership. A win will give them hope of closing the gap next week when they host Motherwell again.
