Celtic midfielder Morten Wieghorst inspired the Scottish Cup holders to a comprehensive 5-0 third round win over Alloa at Brockville.

The Danish international was handed his second start since recovering from Guillain-Barre Syndrome and responded with the second goal of the game which ended Alloa's hopes of a shock.

Bobo Balde had already given Celtic the lead before Shaun Maloney, Bobby Petta and Momo Sylla completed the scoring to set up an all-Premier League fourth round tie at Kilmarnock.

But manager Martin O'Neill's gamble to rest eight first team players including Henrik Larsson, John Hartson, Neil Lennon, Paul Lambert, Joos Valgaeren and Johan Mjallby paid off.

However, his decision to name Wieghorst in the starting line-up for the first time since November saw the great Dane put last season's illness behind him.

There were as many eyebrows raised to his inclusion as to the Scottish Football Association's choice of venue for this encounter but, again, O'Neill proved his decision was right.

But Celtic were warned they faced a tough cup-tie after just four minutes when James Fisher floated an inviting free-kick into the box and Mark Cowan got above Olivier Tebily to head just wide.

But, a minute later, Gregg Watson's over-enthusiasm cost him with a yellow card after a bad tackle on youngster Maloney.

Alloa manager Terry Christie got involved in an angry exchange of words with referee Mike McCurry shortly after and, although the reason was unclear, it was his turn to earn a stern telling-off.

The match official, however, appeared to get it wrong in the 17th minute after failing to book Ian Little for a reckless challenge on Maloney.

But Stilian Petrov almost made them pay from the resulting free-kick with an awkward right-foot shot which squirmed through the grasp of Derek Soutar, but Craig Valentine was able to clear.

Celtic, however, did take the lead two minutes later through Balde.

The former Toulouse man did not quite catch his 25-yard shot as he would have liked but it seemed to take a strange bounce in front of Soutar and sneaked past his despairing dive.

Sylla, playing in an unaccustomed striking role, could have doubled Celtic's lead with a great chance in the 24th minute.

The Frenchman was sent away by Tom Boyd's long ball but, with just the keeper to beat, he pulled his left-foot shot well wide.

Celtic threatened to run riot and Soutar needed to make four good saves from Balde, Petta, Maloney and Tebily to keep the Second Division side's hopes alive.

Little went into McCurry's book for a late challenge on Sylla after a bad challenge.

Soutar was left helpless in the 36th minute as Tebily rose to meet Petta's cross but he breathed a sigh of relief to see the defender head just past the post.

The Alloa hero again made a great point-blank save to thwart Sylla a minute later although the former St Johnstone favourite's finish should have been much better.

But Wieghorst had a special moment to savour in the 42nd minute when he headed Celtic's second from Maloney's cross.

It took just 11 minutes of the second period for Celtic to scupper Alloa's hopes through Maloney, who swept home Steve Guppy's cross.

Petta also tried to get in on the act in the 68th minute with a fierce right-foot shot which flashed just past the upright while Soutar again made a good stop to deny Sylla.

But the Dutch winger did get his name on the scoresheet in the 75th minute with a determined burst into the area and a cool finish past the on-rushing Soutar.

Celtic then rubbed salt into the wounds with eight minutes remaining as Sylla fired home at the second attempt from Guppy's corner which was an unfair reflection on the brave Alloa keeper.

Teams

Alloa: Soutar, Valentine, Watson (Gareth Evans 60), Thomson, Cowan, Hamilton, Christie, Fisher, Whalen (Walker 57), Hutchison (Curran 73), Little.

Subs Not Used: Knox, Jim Evans.

Booked: Watson, Little.

Celtic: Gould, Boyd, Balde (Healy 61), Tebily, Guppy, McNamara, Wieghorst, Petrov (Smith 45), Petta, Maloney, Sylla.

Subs Not Used: Lambert, Moravcik, Douglas.

Goals: Balde 19, Wieghorst 42, Maloney 56, Petta 75, Sylla 83.

Att: 5,498

Ref: M McCurry (Scotland).