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CELTIC had to fight for their place in the quarter-final of the Homecoming Scottish Cup, as goals from Gary Caldwell and Scott McDonald earned a narrow 2-1 victory over Queen’s Park.

Gordon Strachan’s men struggled to hit top gear at any stage in this match and despite going in two goals up at half time, it was the visitors who rallied in the second half, stealing one back through Adam Coakley.

Anyone who arrived at Celtic Park anticipating an early demolition of the Second Division side will have been disappointed as the visitors battled manfully throughout the opening half.

They also had the first chance of the match in the second minute, when a combination of Ryan Holms and Ian Watt dispossessed Marc Crosas, with Watt firing off a shot which forced Artur Boruc to scramble across his goal to push the ball away.

Queen’s Park continued cause a few flickers of concern as they defended in numbers, but tried to break with pace on the counter, although when Celtic did choose to step it up a gear they were able to find room to manoeuvre.

One such move came straight from a Boruc kick-out in the ninth minute, which was cleverly nodded on to Shaun Maloney by Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and then rolled back into the Dutchman’s path by the little attacker.

Vennegoor of Hesselink’s first shot was blocked on the line by James Brough, with his follow up then cut out by goalkeeper, David Crawford.

But it was a combination of Celtic’s height and physical presence that eventually forced the breakthrough in the 19th minute, with Lee Naylor’s cross delivered deep to the back post from the left, headed back into the mix by Darren O'Dea and then powered home by the head of fellow defender, Gary Caldwell.

There were a lot of similarities between this and the second strike in first-half injury time, with Naylor again delivering a good ball to the back post, where it was bravely headed back across goal by Vennegoor of Hesselink for McDonald, who nodded the ball over the line.

There was also a moment of real concern when Marc Crosas went down in agony after a challenge from Paul Harkins. The midfielder then limped off, returning briefly to the fray before being replaced by Massimo Donati.

Despite having gone two behind, it was Queen’s Park who emerged the more positive and enthusiastic of the two teams after the interval and as they enjoyed the bulk of the possession, Steven Nicholas came within inches of scoring.

It was Holms who drove in the ball from the right and it just arrived too quickly for the striker, who could only deflect it past the post.

This was followed up by a Holms’ free kick, which Boruc punched clear under pressure from Sinclair and then, just a few minutes later, in the 66th minute, the visitors pulled one back through substitute, Adam Coakley.

The little forward had stabbed a shot at goal which Boruc could only parry, but followed it up, reaching the loose ball and clipping it in off the post. Coakley was booked for his celebrations, a decision which would have graver consequences later on.

Celtic continued to labour, creating little in the way of chances, with a surging run from Paddy McCourt leading to a rare opening which saw Vennegoor of Hesselink’s shot blocked, before the ball dropped for McDonald, who was crowded out in front of goal.

Gordon Strachan’s men would pick up the pace late on and in the dying minutes, keep possession in the final third, without creating chances. But this only happened when Queen’s Park were reduced to 10 men, with Coakley shown a second yellow after catching Naylor with a late challenge.

To the Celtic supporters’ credit, the Queen’s Park players were applauded off the park for what was a sterling performance.

Homecoming Scotland Scottish Cup

Fifth Round

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC… 2

(Caldwell 19, McDonald 46)

QUEEN’S PARK… 1

(Coakley 66)

WEBSITE MAN OF THE MATCH: Aiden McGeady

CELTIC (4-4-2) Boruc; Hinkel, Caldwell, O’Dea, Naylor; McGeady, Hartley, Crosas (Donati 42), Maloney (McCourt 61); McDonald, Vennegoor of Hesselink (Samaras 75).

Subs: Fox, Misun.

QUEEN’S PARK (4-4-2) Crawford; Ure (Ronald 87), Douglas, Sinclair, Brough; Nicholas, Quinn, Cairney, Holms; Harkins (Dunlop 87), Watt (Coakley 61).

Subs: Cowie, Agostini.