Liam Scales scored a belter to set Celtic on their way to the Scottish FA Cup quarter-finals with a 4-0 victory over Raith Rovers.
The former UCD and Shamrock Rovers man settled the Bhoys’ early nerves midway through the first half with a thunderbolt from the edge of the box.
23-year-old Scales, who joined Celtic from Rovers in August, bagged his second goal in 12 appearances with a shot that left keeper Jamie MacDonald with no chance.
Giorgios Giakoumakis, Daizen Maeda and Nir Bitton added goals in the final quarter to put a gloss on the scoreline and snuff out Raith’s hopes of a comeback at Celtic Park.
It’s the second time Celtic and Raith have faced off this season, Scales having debuted for the club in the Bhoys’ 3-0 win in the League Cup quarter-final at Parkhead in September.
Championship side Raith, who brought Cork striker Ethan Varion on as a second-half substitute, were in the game for 68 minutes before Giakoumakis made it 2-0.
The Kirkcaldy club have vowed not to select David Goodwillie after signing the striker, who was ruled to be a rapist in a civil trial in 2017, during the January transfer window.
The club initially defended the decision as several board members and the club’s entire women’s team cut ties.
Raith have since vowed not to select the former Blackburn Rovers and Aberdeen striker, though he continues to be contracted to the club.
They arrived at Celtic Park in confident mood, however, and caused Ange Postecoglou’s much-changed side problems in the first half.
Celtic were restricted to shots from distance early on, with Mikey Johnston and Bitton blazing off-target early doors before Reo Hatate forced a routine save from MacDonald.
The Bhoys had a scare of their own in the opening minutes as hesitancy in the Celtic backline always allowed Jamie Gullan to nip in but Joe Hart managed to clear his lines.
That early tension was quickly eased when Scales picked up a pass from Celtic’s Aussie international Tom Rogic 25 yards out.
Scales took one touch to get the ball out of his feet before unleashing a furious left-footed shot that beat MacDonald and clipped the inside of the post before settling in the net.
Celtic survived a penalty appeal as Raith complained Cameron Carter-Vickers had handled, and replays suggested a spotkick was merited.
Raith had a bright spell towards the end of the half as Regan Tumilty was unlucky nobody got on the end of his ball across the six-yard box.
Scales did brilliantly to prevent Aidan Connolly from getting his head to a dangerous cross early in the second half as Raith sensed vulnerability in the Celtic side.
The Irishman was then denied by a fine block from Sam Stanton, whom he faced when the midfielder was at Dundalk last season, as Celtic began to assert themselves.
Still, substitute Dario Zanatta was just inches from connecting with a fine ball into the box from Tumilty as the clock ticked past an hour with the score 1-0.
Two goals in here minutes, from Giakoumakis and substitute Maeda put the result beyond doubt.
Jota, who replaced the injured Johnston moments earlier, teed up Giakoumakis to finish calmly past MacDonald on 68 minutes.
Maeda, Yosuke Ideguchi and Liel Abada replaced Rogic, Giakoumakis and James Forrest and Maeda made it three with his first touch as he turned home after MacDonald had saved.
And Bitton made it 4-0 at the second attempt with two minutes remaining after MacDonald had done brilliantly to save his penalty.
