Neil Lennon breaks cup hoodoo as Celtic hit Inverness for six

This was an emphatic way for Neil Lennon to dismiss any notion of a cup hoodoo. Celtic's manager entered this last-16 tie in the Co-operative Insurance Cup tie with flawless Scottish Premier League form. His knockout form, however, was more suspect in advance of Inverness Caledonian Thistle's visit. It was Lennon, after all, who presided over Celtic's embarrassing Scottish Cup defeat to Ross County last season. The Northern Irishman was also in charge at the start of this campaign, when Celtic were bundled out of both the Champions League and Europa League at the qualifying stage. Lennon's maiden cup victory as a manager arrived against little resistance. Celtic obviously had ideas of emulating Rangers' 7-2 mauling of Dunfermline 24 hours earlier. The only negative for the home side was an early injury collected by the Honduran full-back Emilio Izaguirre, a star of the opening weeks of the domestic season, which cut short his night's work. Inverness have the excuse of more severe injury troubles for their timid showing. This was a rare embarrassment for Terry Butcher during his successful tenure at the Highland club. From all but the first minute, they never looked likely to repeat their cup success at this venue a decade ago, which prompted John Barnes's sacking as the Celtic manager. Georgios Samaras will be credited with a hat-trick in some quarters, even if that is a slightly dubious claim owing to one of his goals. The Greek striker was, though, clearly responsible for Celtic's first of the night, as he met a Joe Ledley cross to side-foot home from close range. The industrious Gary Hooper doubled the hosts' lead just four minutes later, turning swiftly inside the Inverness penalty area before slotting beyond Johnny Tuffey. Celtic settled the tie before the interval, but Samaras had actually wasted the chance to definitely secure his second after delaying his shot when one-on-one with Tuffey. When the former Manchester City forward did eventually chip over the Inverness goalkeeper, David Proctor had ample time to clear; instead, the visiting defender knocked the ball into his own net. Proctor also played an unwanted part in Celtic's fourth goal after failing to clear his lines as the ball fell to Samaras. The forward, who can seamlessly flick between terrific and terrible even within the same game, proved he was enjoying one of his better evenings with a low, curling finish. Anthony Stokes was unwilling for his fellow striker to grab all the attention. The referee, Dougie McDonald, obviously had some compassion towards Inverness, after failing to send off Tuffey for hauling down Stokes inside his own penalty area. The recent arrival from Hibernian dished out his own punishment with the resultant penalty. Stokes then claimed the goal of the game with an angled strike from 20 yards, which Tuffey could only place a slight hand on during its way into his top left-hand corner. Lennon, who would probably have taken delight in any victory at all given troubles of the past, finally has a cup of cheer.