Scottish Cup: Premiership sides secure places in fourth round

Premiership sides booked their places in the draw for the next round as the Scottish Cup returned on Saturday.

Ross County’s defeat to Inverness on Friday was a warning to the top flight teams that they couldn’t assume progress would be easy, and it was a message that most took on board.

St Mirren beat Hamilton in the only all-Premiership tie, with Jamie McGrath scoring a double and Kristian Dennis finding the net.

St Johnstone, winners of on cup trophy already this season, beat Dundee at Dens Park thanks to a Guy Melamed goal, while Dundee United scored two late goals to beat Partick Thistle 2-1.

Motherwell cruised to victory at Formartine United with Jordan Roberts scoring a double and Christopher Long, Devante Cole and Allan Campbell all on the scoresheet in a 5-0 win. Kyle Lafferty netted a hat-trick as Kilmarnock won 4-0 away at Stenhousemuir.

Livingston needed extra-time to progress against Raith. Lewis Vaighan gave Rovers the lead at the Tony Macaroni but Jack Fitzwater found a second half equaliser. Extra time saw both sides have chances but Matej Poplatnik took his when it came to seal victory for David Martindale’s side.

In the lunchtime game, Aberdeen struggled to find the net against Dumbarton but Callum Hendry struck with six minutes to go to spare the Dons’ blushes.

Clyde were 1-0 winners at Ayr, while Montrose beat Fraserburgh 4-2.

Stranraer scored twice in extra time to win 3-1 at Brora Rangers, Morton were 2-1 winners at East Fife after the sides had been locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes.

Only one match went to penalties, with Forfar Athletic and Edinburgh City drawing 2-2 after extra time and Forfar winning the shoot-out 5-3.