Kilmarnock 2-0 Cove Rangers: McInnes' side progress in Scottish Cup
- Published
Watkins flicked home right at the end of the first half
Kilmarnock struck in both halves to see off League 1 Cove Rangers and progress to the Scottish Cup quarter-finals.
Marley Watkins' second goal in four days broke the visitors' resolve when he stayed alert to flick home from a corner.
It was far from a comfortable afternoon for the Premiership high fliers, but they sealed their spot in the last eight when Danny Armstrong rifled the ball beyond Nick Suman.
Derek McInnes' side will learn who face for a trip to Hampden in Sunday's draw, which is live on BBC One Scotland (16:30 GMT) ahead of Airdrieonians' tie with Hearts.
The best chances of the early stages came the way of the visitors, though Rumarn Burrell failed to punish his former side as he saw his volley cleared off the line by Stuart Findlay.
A restless home crowd was lifted when Kevin van Veen nearly opened his account on his first start for the Ayrshire club, his deft header looping onto the Cove crossbar.
While the Dutchman has dominated much of the talk around Kilmarnock since his deadline-day arrival, it was summer signing Watkins who again made the difference.
Going ahead late in the first half didn't do much to lift the hosts' level as they laboured for much of the tie and endured a few ropey moments against Paul Hartley's side.
But substitute Armstrong continued his fine campaign when he belted Rory McKenzie's cross into the back of the net to ensure Kilmarnock's name stays in the hat.
Kyle Vassell so nearly added extra gloss to the victory, denied by Suman charging back to claw the striker's lovely dink off the line.
Player of the match - Marley Watkins (Kilmarnock)
No wonder the Killie fans have started calling him magic. The veteran striker has found a new lease of life at Rugby Park, with nine goals for the campaign.
What they said
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "It was a tie we had to overcome and there are plenty of positives, getting boys minutes, the clean sheet and getting into the next round was clearly the most important thing.
"We get the all important goal just before half-time, the team talk was still the same but in terms of the outcome, I think it knocks the stuffing out of Cove."
Cove Rangers manager Paul Hartley: "We've got to dust ourselves down and get on with the league business, our challenge is to get into the play-offs with 13 games remaining.
"It's the business end of the season and we want to get into the play-offs, it's a tight league and it's tight for a top-four spot. We've showed what we can do against a quality team that are the fourth best team in Scotland at this moment in time."
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