Adam Idah and Nicolas Kuhn inspired an emphatic comeback as Celtic beat Falkirk 5-2 in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals.
The William Hill Championship's top side deservedly led at the break after Ross MacIver and Finn Yeats twice gave them the lead either side of Paulo Bernardo’s powerful strike for a much-changed Celtic team.
Kuhn was one of four substitutes to enter on the hour mark and he twice set up Adam Idah for a quickfire double to turn the game on its head before the German winger netted twice himself.
The scoreline was harsh on a Falkirk side who arguably posed Celtic their toughest challenge of the season before the final 20 minutes.
The game pitted Brendan Rodgers against a former member of his backroom team from his first spell at Celtic Park, John McGlynn.
The former Hearts manager has led Falkirk on a 43-game unbeaten league run which has taken them from League One to the top of the Championship following five wins from five this season. The Bairns had knocked out Hearts in the previous round.
Rodgers made eight changes following Wednesday’s 5-1 Champions League win over Slovan Bratislava as Alex Valle made his debut and former Sheffield United centre-back Auston Trusty was handed his first start.
On-loan Barcelona left-back Valle delivered an assist but was outmuscled before both Falkirk goals.
Alistair Johnston and Cameron Carter-Vickers missed out through injury and the only players to retain their places were Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate and former Falkirk player Kasper Schmeichel.
Bernardo was full of energy in the opening stages and he set up James Forrest for an early curling effort which drew a fingertip save from Nicky Hogarth.
The visitors were not overawed though and were playing the ball around with
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