Celtic begin Scottish Cup title defence with hard-fought win over Kilmarnock

Celtic began their defence of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup with a 2-1 fourth-round win over a spirited Kilmarnock side at Parkhead.

Killie keeper Robby McCrorie was injured with less than a minute played and had to be replaced by Kieran O'Hara, who was beaten in the 12th minute by Celtic skipper Callum McGregor’s drive from distance.

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The holders should have stretched their lead thereafter but were stunned in added time in the first half when teenage Rugby Park striker Bobby Wales levelled from close range.

Celtic stepped up the pressure after the break and Daizen Maeda struck in the 70th minute but they could not subdue Derek McInnes’s side, who kept the tie alive and nervy until the final whistle.

In his two spells as Celtic boss, Rodgers has come out on top in all 18 ties which have won him the famous old trophy three times.

And few would bet against the Hoops retaining the cup this season, when the Premier Sports Cup is already in the trophy room and a 13-point lead over Rangers at the top of the William Hill Premiership will surely see the title remain at Parkhead.

Before the game the Celtic Park crowd showed their respect for former Manchester United and Scotland striker Denis Law, who died on Friday, with a minute’s applause.

There was less than 30 seconds on the clock when former Rangers keeper McCrorie rushed from his goal to thwart Nicolas Kuhn, back in the home side along with Reo Hatate, Arne Engels and Maeda, and took the Celtic winger’s knee to his face to end his game, with O’Hara taking over.

In the eighth minute Killie’s Fraser Murray beat Celtic keeper Kasper Schmeichel with a curling free-kick from 25 yards but the ball rebounded off the bar and seconds later Hoops striker Maeda was at the