BHOYS SAIL PAST STRANRAER
Goals from Joos Valgaeren, Jackie McNamara, Lubomir Moravcik and an unfortunate own goal from Keith Knox was enough for Martin O'Neill's men to exorcise the ghost of their embarrassing defeat to Inverness Caledonian Thistle last year in this competition.
Not surprisingly, it was the Scottish league leaders who dominated proceedings from the start, and they almost took the lead in their very first attack through top scorer Hernrik Larsson, but the Swedish striker saw his goalbound header from Ramon Vega's right-wing cross turned around for a corner by Stranraer goalkeeper Mark McGeown.
From the resulting corner Vega had a chance to give Celtic the lead himself, but the Swiss defender fired high and over the crossbar from six yards with the goal at his mercy.
The home side had the chance to shock their illustrious opponents after 10 minutes when Paul Walker was sent clear by Paul Harty's through ball, but he could only shoot straight at Robert Douglas under pressure from Valgaeren.
The Scottish Cup record winners finally broke the deadlock after 24 minutes, when Valgaeren headed bravely home at the back post after Vega had flicked Neil Lennon's free kick across the six yard box for the big Belgian to nod into an empty net.
Larsson had a couple of opportunities to grab the second a few minutes later but he snatched at the chances putting them wide.
The prolific Swede then missed a glorious chance to double the lead just four minutes before the break, but Larsson somehow hit Lennon's inviting cross against the crossbar from just six yards out, when it looked easier to score.
Celtic came out strongly for the second half, hoping to turn their domination into goals and they duly grabbed their second of the night six minutes later.
With Stranraer temporarily down to ten men with Keith Knox receiving attention on the sidelines, a fine Jackie McNamara strike extended the lead even further.
Knox returned to the action but, just a few minutes later, the defender was the unfortunate man to put through his own net from an inviting left wing Bobby Petta cross aimed towards Chris Sutton.
The home side battled bravely throughout and got the reward their performance deserved with a consolation from the industrious Ian Harty, after a mistake by Alan Thompson on 83 minutes as Celtic conceded their first goal in five games.
Celtic restored their three goal advantage just a minute later, when substitute Lubomir Moracvik fired in a shot which wriggled under the unlucky McGeown.
The result and a performance will be a major boost for O'Neill, who had doubts that his side could return to the form they were showing before the winter break as they still challenge on three fronts.
