Scottish Football: Replay reward for bonny Clyde

CELTIC'S already dismal season almost took a turn for the worse with an unsteady performance against the Second Division part- timers, Clyde, who earned a replay and most of the praise after a 0-0 draw at Douglas Park, Hamilton.

Certainly, Celtic came closest to scoring with a Tommy Coyne shot which flashed wide but, with nerves jangling among the green and white hoops, Jamie McCarron was denied a last-gasp goal by a brave Pat Bonner save. The lack of a killer instinct must be worrying for Liam Brady, the Celtic manager, whose team have played 360 minutes of football without finding the net.

Scoring goals has not been a problem for Rangers this season. Ally McCoist again demonstrated his knack for being in the right place at the right time with both Rangers' goals against Motherwell. Their reward is an away tie against Ayr United in the fourth round.

Cowdenbeath have recorded just one League win all season and little was expected of them at Partick Thistle, but a penalty scored after 46 minutes by Nick Henderson provided the day's biggest shock and earned the Fife team a home draw against Hibernian.

Elsewhere, Goliath held the upper hand, with the Highland League side, Huntly, conceding six at Tynecastle against Hearts, and St Johnstone disposing of Forfar in similar fashion.

Dundee United came back from a goal down to beat Meadowbank 3-1, and Aberdeen's 4-1 win over Hamilton proved they have not lost the goalscoring habit. The two victors meet in an all-ticket match at Pittodrie in the best tie of the fourth round. Danny McGrain's Arbroath will entertain East Fife after a fine 3-0 win over Morton.

Simon Stainrod, Dundee's player-manager, was sent off after an off-the-ball incident in the first half of his side's tie against Dumbarton at Dens Park yesterday. However, goals after the break from Morten Wieghorst, their Danish import, and Billy Dodds (from the penalty spot) earned Dundee a fourth- round visit to Hearts.

TENNENTS SCOTTISH CUP Fourth-round draw: Kilmarnock v St Johnstone; Cove Rangers or East Stirlingshire v Airdrie or Clydebank; Cowdenbeath v Hibernian; Arbroath v East Fife; Heart of Midlothian v Dundee; Aberdeen v Dundee United; Falkirk or Berwick Rangers v Clyde or Celtic; Ayr United v Rangers. (Ties to be played Saturday 6 February).