Celtic needed the gift of a Sandy Stewart own goal to wrap up an edgy
Tennents Scottish Cup third round success over Airdrie at Parkhead.
The home team started in fine style through Henrik Larsson's third minute
opener, but they lost their way before the break.
Steve Cooper's header drew the First Division visitors level as Airdrie
threatened to repeat their Scottish League Cup victory over Celtic earlier this
term.
But after 49 minutes an under-pressure Stewart defeated his own keeper with a
wayward header to put Celtic back in front and they were not to relinquish
command a second time.
In their very next attack, Phil O'Donnell's drive from the edge of the area
steered the tie beyond Airdrie's reach to leave Celtic head coach Jozef Venglos
a relieved man.
With his side 10 points adrift of Rangers in the Scottish Premier League, the
Slovakian knows this competition represents his most realistic hope of avoiding
a trophyless campaign.
There was no sign of Marko Viduka at the ground, but the striker has returned
to Glasgow and on this evidence will be an essential addition to a squad still
lacking a natural goalscorer.
Regi Blinker's return to competitive action only got him as far as the bench,
he was used late on, for a Celtic side which saw Simon Donnelly restored to the
starting line-up after injury.
The home team could hardly have made a more convincing start looking sharp and
assured from the outset, taking a mere three minutes to move ahead through
leading scorer Larsson.
A loose pass from Marvyn Wilson was seized upon by O'Donnell who raced down
the left flank before producing a precise cross Larsson was able to tap into the
net at the far post.
A mere two minutes later, Airdrie keeper John Martin made a smart low save
from a Lubomir Moravcik free kick after Kenny Black had felled O'Donnell. Celtic
were fluent at this stage and on seven minutes Johan Mjallby shot just over the
bar at the finish of a move the Swedish defender started in his own half.
Donnelly's fiercely-struck drive after 17 minutes would surely have troubled
Martin had it not been blocked en route and Celtic looked well in control. There
was a warning the visitors might have more to offer however a minute later when
Gareth Evans made impressive ground on the right before firing a shot Jonathan
Gould was equal to.
Airdrie did level after 23 minutes when Black's floated corner saw Cooper rise
above a static backline to send a glancing header into the net via a post.
Celtic were stunned, but not into a swift response and a deflected effort by
Black could even have put Airdrie ahead after 25 minutes as Gould was left
scrambling as the ball went narrowly wide.
After 32 minutes, Riseth's hopeful ball into the area was met by Donnelly who
rounded Martin, but the Scotland international's momentum was such he was unable
to find an angle for a shot.
Celtic were suffering several offside verdicts against them to the crowd's
fury, but did spurn a chance after 36 minutes when a fine Donnelly decoy run
made space for O'Donnell.
The winger charged into the vacant ground in front of him, but his eventual
shot was dragged badly wide and Celtic's frustration was now evident.
The second-half looked well set up, but the match was instead decided within
minutes of the restart with two swift Celtic goals, though the first must be
considered fortunate.
Mjallby sent in a cross from the right that panicked Stewart into diverting a
clearing header towards his own net, and keeper Martin could only palm the ball
into the top corner.
Airdrie's misery was compounded just two minutes later when O'Donnell fired
low beyond Martin's reach.
The immediate impression was 'game over', and the players of both teams
appeared to share that view as few opportunities were created by either outfit
in worsening rainswept conditions.
Airdrie had a penalty appeal refused after 65 minutes when substitute Paul
McGrillen claimed Tom Boyd fouled him, but referee Clark ruled the Celtic
skipper played the ball only.
An ambitious Riseth drive sailed over the crossbar after 72 minutes, while
seven minutes later Larsson lacked control when released by O'Donnell.
Stephane Mahe forced Martin into a save in the closing minutes, but the damage
had been done and Airdrie were left to reflect how much of it had been
self-inflicted.
Teams:
Celtic: Gould, Boyd, Stubbs, Mjallby (Hannah 89), Mahe, Riseth,
Moravcik (Blinker 78), Lambert, O'Donnell,
Donnelly (Burchill 69), Larsson.
Booked: Riseth, Moravcik.
Goals: Larsson 3, Stewart 49 og, O'Donnell 51.
Airdrie: Martin, Stewart, Sandison, Jack, Johnston, McCann,
Black, Wilson, Smith (McGrillen 61), Cooper, Evans (Moore 59).
Subs Not Used: MacKay.
Booked: Black, Wilson, Evans, Cooper.
Goals: Cooper 23.
Att: 43,642
Ref: K Clark (Paisley).
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