Celtic eased through to the fourth round of the Tennent's Scottish Cup with a comfortable home win over Third Division Dumbarton.

After Paul McQuilkin had missed an early chance for the visitors, a double by Maciej Zurawski and a strike by Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink gave the home side an unassailable interval lead.

Substitute Derek Riordan, who replaced Shunsuke Nakamura at the break, grabbed Celtic's fourth with 20 minutes to go.

It was easy in the end but Hoops boss Gordon Strachan must have viewed this game beforehand with some nervousness.

First Division Clyde had caused the shock of the tournament last season when they beat Celtic 2-1 at Broadwood at this stage of the tournament.

However, history was not on the visitors' side. The Sons of the Rock had not beaten Celtic since 1892 and had not even involved at the third-round stage since 1989.

The Third Division side, however, should have taken the lead after just 90 seconds when McQuilkin found himself with space inside the Parkhead penalty area when he picked up a pass from Ryan Borris.

However, from just 10 yards out he failed to connect properly and his right-footed shot went wide. With that went their chance of a shock.

In the fourth minute the Hoops took the lead and effectively the tie was over.

Celtic midfielder Nakamura, who moments earlier had a free-kick from 25 yards saved by goalkeeper Stephen Grindlay, put Zurawski through on the right of the Dumbarton penalty area.

The Polish striker kept his cool to lob the ball over the advancing Grindlay and into the net.

In the 10th minute the tie was all but over when Zurawski took a Nakamura pass on his chest and drove a right-footed shot from 12 yards past the helpless Grindlay.

In the 32nd minute Vennegoor of Hesselink, looking suspiciously offside when he took a Nakamura pass, had a shot from close range well saved by the Sons goalkeeper who then quickly made another save from the Dutchman.

Seconds later, Zurawski passed up the chance of his hat-trick when he rounded Grindlay - only to hit the post from a tight angle after running the ball wide.

In the 43rd minute Vennegoor of Hesselink got his goal in unusual circumstances.

After Zurawski's cross from the right was only partially cleared, Aiden McGeady's header was tipped onto the bar by Grindlay.

When the ball fell to the former PSV Eindhoven player two yards out, he had the easiest of tasks to knock it over the line.

Riordan replaced Nakamura at the interval, with Chris Hamilton coming on for Chris Gentile, but the flow of the game continued along the same way, towards the Dumbarton goal.

When he had to, Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc easily plucked a couple of Dumbarton corners out of the air with ease.

In the 58th minute, Grindlay was again called upon to make a good save when he blocked a Steven Pressley snap shot from six yards out after Darren O'Dea had helped a Riordan corner towards goal.

Perhaps understandably, casual errors began to affect the Parkhead side who were struggling to keep their enthusiasm with such a commanding lead.

But in the 70th minute Riordan scored Celtic's fourth when he latched onto a Zurawski pass and slotted a right-footed shot from 16 yards past Grindlay.

Thomas Gravesen then replaced Neil Lennon and Kenny Miller came on for Vennegoor of Hesselink as the game entered its final stages.

With seven minutes remaining McGeady curled a shot from 25 yards which hit the outside of the post before Miller tried a spectacular overhead kick from 10 yards out which Grindlay saved with some ease.

Teams:

Celtic Boruc, Telfer, Pressley, O'Dea, Naylor,Nakamura (Riordan 45), Lennon (Gravesen 72), Sno, McGeady,Zurawski, Vennegoor of Hesselink (Miller 78).

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Jarosik.

Goals: Zurawski 4, 9, Vennegoor of Hesselink 43, Riordan 69.

Dumbarton Grindlay, Geggan, Canning, Craig, Brittain,Borris (Gemmell 76), Gentile (Hamilton 45), Bagan, Winter,Chris Boyle, McQuilken (McNaught 63).

Subs Not Used: Shaw, Dillon.

Att: 18,685

Ref: W Collum (Scotland).