Celtic through, holders Rangers crash out

Scottish League Cup round-up:Gary Hooper's early goal sent Celticon their way to a comfortable 2-0 win at Dingwall as they avoided another shock against Ross Countyand bounced back from Old Firm defeat.

Hooper netted from close range after a 14th-minute corner before Scott Boyd’s own goal early in the second half removed any doubt about the outcome of the Scottish Communities League Cup third-round tie.

Celtic survived one tense moment in between the goals when Michael Gardyne volleyed against the post but County otherwise did not look like emulating their 2010 Scottish Cup semi-final win over Neil Lennon’s men amid torrential rain.

Holders

Rangers

crashed out at the hands of

Falkirk

as hopes of a domestic treble this season were left in tatters.

Farid El Allagui grabbed a double for the First Division side before Dorin Goian and Nikica Jelavic both netted for Rangers. But Mark Millar had the final say with an injury-time winner as Falkirk booked their place in the fourth round.

Ayr

claimed their second top-flight scalp Cup after defeating

Hearts

4-1 on penalties following a 1-1 stalemate at Somerset Park.

Danny Grainger and Rudi Skacel were both denied by Ayr goalkeeper Kevin Cuthbert in the shoot-out while Mark Roberts coolly slotted home the winning spot-kick for the First Division side, who eliminated Inverness in the previous round.

In normal play Gareth Wardlaw equalised to cancel out Scott Robinson’s 48th-minute opener for Hearts and send the tie to extra-time.