Celtic scored twice in the last 16 minutes to join holders Rangers in the Scottish Cup fourth round after a 2-0 win over plucky first division Ross County today.
Celtic will now visit Hearts while Rangers, who earlier extended their unbeaten cup record to 23 games with a 2-0 win at Hibernian, travel to Kilmarnock in the next round.
Premier league leaders Celtic produced an indifferent display but a header on 74 minutes from John Hartson - who appeared to foul defender Jim Lauchlan - and Paul Lambert's strike five minutes later won a hard-fought encounter.
Rangers quelled a spirited opening from Hibs, who lost midfielder Grant Brebner on 14 minutes with a broken arm, when Shota Arveladze scored after 35 minutes.
Peter Lovenkrands got a second 14 minutes later after a surging run. Rangers have not lost a Scottish or League Cup tie since manager Alex McLeish became manager in December 2001.
With Rangers trailing league leaders Celtic by 11 points after last Saturday's 3-0 defeat by their bitter Glasgow rivals, cup success has become more important.
In the other all-SPL ties, Dunfermline Athletic beat Dundee United 3-1, while Aberdeen and 10-man Dundee drew 0-0 and will replay at Dens Park on January 21st.
Dunfermline will visit first division Clyde in round four, while another first division club Falkirk await the winners of the Aberdeen versus Dundee replay.
There were no major shocks today although non-league Spartans won 4-1 at second division Arbroath and Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who beat Celtic in their run to last year's semi-finals, walloped first division rivals Brechin City 5-1.
Spartans have been drawn at home to premier league Livingston in the fourth round and Inverness Caledonian Thistle will travel to fellow first division club St Mirren.