CELTIC booked a place in the fifth round of the William Hill Scottish Cup, kept alive their hopes of completing a Treble in 2017 and extended their unbeaten domestic run to 25 games with this 3-0 win over Albion Rovers at the Excelsior Stadium.

But Brendan Rodgers’s side had to work hard for their victory against third tier minnows who produced an excellent defensive display and it took two late goals from Moussa Dembele and Stuart Armstrong to make sure of their victory.

There were rare first team starts for Dedryck Boyata at centre half, Cristian Gamboa at right back and Nir Bitton in central midfield for Celtic. But the Belgian, Costa Rican and Israeli are all internationalists so it was hardly a significantly weakened team.

The return to action of Kieran Tierney – the left back who made his first start since the Betfred Cup semi-final against Rangers at Hampden back in October – certainly injected quality into the visiting side.

The Scotland internationalist, who underwent both ankle and shoulder surgery during his time out, came through the outing unscathed and set up the opening goal. His return to action is hugely positive for both his club and his country.  

Lustig, who last week signed a two year contract extension, formed a new central defensive partnership with Boyata as Jozo Simunovic was rested and the suspended Erik Sviatchenko watched from the stands. They were untroubled by their League One rivals.

Paul Willis, the Albion Rovers striker, tried his luck from long-range in the opening minute and managed to get his low shot on target. It was, with the ball skidding across the slick artificial surface, a tricky one for Craig Gordon. But he gathered the ball and was seldom involved thereafter.

Darren Young, the Albion Rovers manager, opted, understandably given the strength of the opposition his part-time side was facing, to field a five man back line with the four man midfield stationed not that far in front of them. His ultra-defensive tactics had the desired affect for the opening half an hour.

Rodgers, attired in a suit and three quarter length coat instead of his usual tracksuit, paced around the technical area nervously as Celtic probed for an opening to no avail. 

Bitton fired over from outside the penalty area, Stuart Armstrong had a shot tipped over the crossbar by Rovers keeper Ross Stewart, Moussa Dembele headed a Lustig ball over and Scott Sinclair was denied from a few yards out.

Celtic finally made the breakthrough in the 30th minute. Tierney fed Sinclair on the edge of the Rovers box and the winger unleashed a high shot which arched over Stewart and into the top right corner of the net. 

There is nothing particularly romantic about Airdrie on a bitterly cold Sunday afternoon in January with light drizzle coming down. But both sets of supporters enthusiastically embraced the occasion all the same and were in fine voice throughout.

Followers of Rovers filled nearly half of the main stand and could be proud of how their favourites performed. There are professional teams in this country who have failed to contain Celtic so effectively. 

Simunovic took over from Lustig, who had picked up a knock in the opening 45 minutes, at the start of the second half, but Celtic continued to dominate. James Forrest went close after some fine work by Sinclair and Armstrong also nearly added to his side’s tally.  

Callum McGregor came on for Tierney, who left the field to rapturous applause, and the substitute supplied Boyata with an excellent chance to put the outcome beyond doubt when he floated a cross to him in the 73rd minute. The defender’s header came off the underside of the crossbar. 

Patrick Roberts came on for Forrest and was involved in Celtic’s second goal. He sent Scot Brown racing into the box and the midfielder squared the ball to Dembele who prodded the ball into an inviting empty net.

It was the French striker’s 20th goal of the 2016/17 campaign and was one of the simplest he has netted, but it was certainly an important one as it killed off the stubborn resistance of Rovers.

Roberts had a hand in Armstrong’s winner in the final minute, weaving through the Rovers defence, before cutting the ball back for his team mate to hammer into the roof of the net.

If Celtic defeat draw or defeat St. Johnstone at Parkhead on Wednesday night they will equal the 26 game unbeaten run recorded by Jock Stein’s team in the 1966/67 season.