Celtic avoided a famous Scottish Cup upset but were made to work far harder than expected as a late goal secured a 2-0 win over sixth-tier Auchinleck Talbot and a place in the last 16 against Dundee.
Interim manager Martin O’Neill rang the changes after the midweek victory at Falkirk, making 10 alterations, yet still named a side packed with experience and quality.
Even so, the Premiership outfit struggled to assert themselves against spirited opposition.
The breakthrough eventually arrived after more than 30 minutes when Johnny Kenny found the net, but Celtic failed to build on that advantage despite dominating possession.
Early on, Kenny missed a presentable chance and Michel-Ange Balikwisha fired over from close range, setting the tone for a frustrating afternoon.
Celtic continued to create openings after the interval.
Kenny struck the crossbar with a header, while goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo almost gifted Talbot an equaliser when he misjudged a punch, allowing the ball to drop dangerously near Connor Boyd.
Kenny later thought he had doubled his tally with a clever chipped finish, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.
With Talbot still very much in the contest, Celtic’s nerves were finally eased three minutes from time.
Substitute Sebastian Tounekti curled a superb strike into the corner from the edge of the box, ending any lingering hopes of a shock comeback.
Progression was ultimately all that mattered for last season’s finalists, but the performance left plenty to be desired.
Rather than the emphatic win many supporters hoped for, Celtic left Rugby Park with more questions than answers, while Auchinleck Talbot departed with heads held high after an outstanding display of resilience and heart.
