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

Killie striker Robby McCrorie was injured with less than a minute to play and was replaced by Kieran O’Hara, who was beaten on 12 minutes by Celtic captain Callum McGregor’s long drive.

The hosts should have taken the lead soon after, but were caught off guard in first-half stoppage time when Rugby Park youngster Bobby Wales went close.

Celtic stepped up their threat after the break and Daizen Maeda struck in the 70th minute but they were unable to overcome Derek McInnes’ side, who kept the tie alive with a scare until the final whistle.

Aberdeen ended their long winless run and entered the fifth round with a perfect 10 league win in League Two. Elgin.

After a difficult start, Shayden Morris calmed the Dons’ nerves with a fine finish from Duk 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 reaching the fifth round of the Scottish Cup with a comfortable 3-0 win Clydebank.

The Australian international – who has won twice in the last three games – broke the deadlock within two minutes.

However, West of Scotland Premier League leaders Clydebank dug in, and Hibs had to wait until the start of the second half to extend their lead.

That goal came through Rudi Molotnikov before Boyle added a second.

There was also excitement for Hibs supporters as Kieron Bowie came off the bench to make his first appearance since picking up a hip injury in September.

Andrew Shinnie scored a late winner if Livingston surprised Ross County knocking them down. His 119th minute winner saw the Championship outfit cause the first big shock in the fourth round.

It has been six years since County won a game in the competition, their last win coming against Motherwell 2-1 in January 2019.

Toyosi Olusanya’s clinical early double set 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 to 10 goals for the season and put the Premier League side in control of the tie at Palmerston Park.

Brennan Dickenson brought the hosts back into League One with a 75th-minute strike, but Saints – after a few nervous minutes – sealed their passage to the final with a stoppage-time goal from substitute Caolan Boyd-Munce.

Makenzie Kirk’s first goal gave away St Johnstone The fans cheered which was important and they gave the trophy to Motherwell without visitors landing a punch.

Kirk fired in the ninth minute to score St Johnstone’s first goal in the competition since Shaun Rooney headed in 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 goals were enough to send Saints into the fifth round with a 1-0 victory and end a nine-game winless run that has seen them drop nine points in the Premiership. The win will give them hope that they can close the gap next week when they face Motherwell again.