Celtic began their defence of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup with a 2-1 fourth-round win over a spirited Kilmarnock side at Parkhead.
Killie keeper Robby McCrorie was injured with less than a minute played and had to be replaced by Kieran O’Hara, who was beaten in the 12th minute by Celtic skipper Callum McGregor’s drive from distance.
The holders should have stretched their lead thereafter but were stunned in added time in the first half when teenage Rugby Park striker Bobby Wales levelled from close range.
Celtic stepped up the pressure after the break and Daizen Maeda struck in the 70th minute but they could not subdue Derek McInnes’ side, who kept the tie alive and nervy until the final whistle.
Aberdeen ended their lengthy winless streak and moved into the fifth round with a comfortable win over 10-man League Two side Elgin.
After a shaky start, Shayden Morris calmed any Dons nerves with a low finish from a Duk pass and Duk himself found the net twice in the second half to seal the victory against a home side who saw Lyall Booth sent off after 75 minutes.
Martin Boyle continued his scoring streak to help Hibernian reach the Scottish Cup fifth round with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Clydebank.
The Australia international – who has notched a double in each of the last three games – broke the deadlock inside two minutes.
However, West of Scotland Premier League leaders Clydebank dug in, with Hibs having to wait until the start of the second period to add to their lead.
That goal arrived through Rudi Molotnikov before Boyle added his second.
There was further cheer for the Hibs supporters when Kieron Bowie climbed off the bench to make his first appearance since suffering a hamstring injury in September.
Andrew Shinnie scored a late winner as Livingston stunned Ross County to knock them out. His 119th-minute winner saw the Championship outfit cause the first big shock of the fourth round.
It is now six years since County won a game in the competition, with their last success a 2-1 win over Motherwell in January 2019.
Toyosi Olusanya’s clinical early double set St Mirren on course for a 3-1 away victory over Queen of the South.
The Englishman notched in the 10th and 21st minutes to take his tally for the season to 10 goals and put the Premiership side in command of the tie at Palmerston Park.
Brennan Dickenson brought the League One hosts back into contention with a 75th-minute strike, but Saints – after a few nervy moments – sealed their progress to the last 16 with a stoppage-time goal from substitute Caolan Boyd-Munce.
Makenzie Kirk’s early goal gave St Johnstone fans some much-needed cheer and delivered a cup knockout to Motherwell without the visitors landing a blow.
Kirk netted on the rebound in the ninth minute to record St Johnstone’s first goal in the tournament since Shaun Rooney headed the winner in the 2021 final against Hibernian. They have since lost to Kelty Hearts, Rangers and Airdrie in the fourth round.
Kirk’s goal proved enough to send Saints into the fifth round with a 1-0 win and ended a nine-game run without victory that has seen them slide nine points adrift in the Premiership. The win will give them hope they can cut the gap next week when they host Motherwell again.