Football: Scottish round-up: Celtic settle for seven

There were no real winners in the Coca-Cola Cup second round. In a competition where the bigger clubs swept aside their unseeded opponents, the results proved inconclusive.

It is doubtful whether any Celtic follower will feel he was given value for money as his side risked injury three days before a European tie in beating Berwick Rangers 7-0 - and how many Aberdeen fans would have found complete satisfaction in their side's comfortable 5-1 win at Dumbarton?

Rangers have been criticised for fielding a weaker side in their 1-0 win over Hamilton on Thursday but the future of the competition in its present form appears insecure as a gap between the top and middle echelons of the Scottish game increasingly becomes a chasm - particularly since the tournament no longer grants automatic entry into Europe.

The draw for the third round has at least provided several more interesting ties with Celtic travelling to face St Johnstone while Hibernian have a difficult journey to play Dundee United. Motherwell, who needed penalties to dispose of Inverness Caledonian Thistle, have a tricky home game against Morton while the holders, Rangers, meet Falkirk at Ibrox.

As they prepare to travel to Austria for their Uefa Cup tie with Tirol Innsbruck, Celtic are hoping to sign Marc Rieper, the West Ham defender who is expected in Glasgow today for talks. Meanwhile, Rangers travel to play IFK Gothenburg without their captain, Brian Laudrup, who has chicken pox.