Any thoughts of a possible Celtic Treble must remain on hold after Barry Nicholson struck a last-gasp equaliser for Dunfermline in a sensational final few minutes at East End Park.

Swedish striker Henrik Larsson had helped himself to his 38th and 39th goals of the season either side of Andrius Skerla's 82nd minute striker to put his side on course for the last eight of the Scottish Cup.

But the former Rangers midfielder struck two minutes into injury time to earn battling Dunfermline a replay at Parkhead in a dramatic finale to the Scottish Cup fourth round tie.

The Glasgow giants and the Swede had produced little in a disappointing tie at East End Park but the Swede proved that he is at his most dangerous when he is quiet.

Celtic struggled to produce the same level of performance which had despatched Rangers twice in their last two games and the match as a whole was a disappointment until the last 10 minutes.

Martin O'Neill's men are 11 points clear in the Premier League and in the final of the CIS Insurance Cup but against a better team they could have been waving goodbye to the Scottish Cup.

After a promising start Dunfermline created a great opening in only the second minute after Ramon Vega was adjudged to have fouled Marinus Dijkhuizen deep into the Celtic half.

From the free-kick Ian Ferguson floated the ball into the Celtic box and Andrew Tod, in acres of room, crept in to head straight at Robert Douglas in the Celtic goal.

However, just a minute later Celtic were denied what looked like a clear-cut penalty following a bizarre blunder by Marco Ruitenbeek.

The Dunfermline goalkeeper totally mis-kicked his clearance and Chris Sutton pounced on the ball before being pulled to the ground by Ruitenbeek who was lucky to escape as referee Willie Young waved away protests.

After that exciting couple of minutes the game flattered to deceive but Celtic still looked the most likely to score.

They created a good chance in the 17th minute when Lennon got to the by-line before crossing to the far post where Sutton headed into the path of Alan Thompson, who could only fire straight at Ruitenbeek on the turn.

Some over-exuberance by Scott Thomson in his own half almost cost Dunfermline in the 37th minute when he was caught in possession by Lennon, who fired a dangerous ball across the face of goal which Ruitenbeek was quick to cut out.

The home side then managed to get Celtic on the back-foot when Nicholson's corner came to Andrew Tod, but he was unable to trouble Douglas, who watched the ball fly over the bar.

However, just a minute Mason squared the ball to Thomson to try his luck and Douglas did well to push his right-foot effort wide.

Moments later Lambert blasted wide of the post after Agathe had found him on the edge of the Dunfermline box.

Bobby Petta he ran straight through the home defence and the goal beckoned but the winger found himself one-on-one with Ruitenbeek only to hit a disappointingly weak shot which the Dunfermline man easily saved to his left.

Larsson was also having a quiet game by his own high standards. But the Swedish striker pulled the trigger in the 55th minute after Petta's cross had broken to him inside the box, but his shot flew over the crossbar.

Celtic were again fuming on the hour after being appearing to be denied two penalties in quick succession when Petta went down under the challenge of Nicholson and then Thompson went to ground after a tackle from his Pars namesake.

The visitors, however, did finally take the lead in the 66th minute when Larsson rose at the far post to head home Thompson's in-swinging free-kick to give Ruitenbeek no chance.

Larsson was on a high and four minutes later Sutton almost fired their second from the Swede's near-post cross.

But with Celtic looking at a place in the last eight they were caught napping as Nicholson's corner fell to Andrius Skerla, who blasted into the roof of the net.

Moments later and Celtic could have been looking at disaster as Thomson burst through before hitting a crisp left-footed shot that flew just past the upright.

But the home side were stunned into silence in the 89th minute when Celtic snatched a dramatic late goal which looked like being the winner.

Lennon's cross into the box fell to Sutton, who knocked the ball inside the defender to Larsson, who coolly lobbed Ruitenbeek to send the fans behind the goal into wild celebrations.

But their jubilation was short-lived as Nicholson picked up the ball deep into injury time before firing home past Douglas.

Teams:

Dunfermline: Ruitenbeek, Skerla, Rossi, Tod, Nicholson, Skinner, Ferguson, Scott Thomson, Mason (Dair 69), Moss (McGroarty 78), Dijkhuizen (Bullen 53).

Subs Not Used: Scott Y Thomson, Petrie.

Booked: Tod, Ferguson.

Goals: Skerla 83, Nicholson 90.

Celtic: Douglas, Boyd, Vega, Valgaeren (Tebily 67), Agathe, Lennon, Lambert, Thompson, Petta (Petrov 71), Larsson, Sutton.

Subs Not Used: Gould, Johnson, Moravcik.

Goals: Larsson 66, 88.

Att: 11,222

Ref: W Young (Scotland).