Brendan Rodgers said his wholesale Celtic changes might have backfired after resorting to the bench to overturn a deficit in their 5-2 win over Falkirk in the Scottish League Cup. 

Rodgers made eight changes to the side that thumped Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League on Wednesday, but the hosts found themselves behind early on. 

Ross MacIver handed Falkirk the lead in the 11th minute, with Paulo Bernardo's leveller cancelled out by Finn Yeats in first-half injury time. 

The Celtic head coach made a quadruple substitution on the hour mark, with the introductions of Nicolas Kuhn and Arne Engels proving decisive in deciding the contest. 

Kuhn provided the assists for Adam Idah's quickfire double, before the German got himself on the scoresheet with a brace of his own to secure Celtic's semi-final spot. 

The Bhoys will face Aberdeen in the semi-finals, with Rodgers expecting another difficult test for his side. 

"It's always a risk making changes. You could see that connection wasn't quite there for the first hour," Rodgers said. 

"If there's any blame on the first hour, it's on me. I make the changes. Falkirk were aggressive and pressed us really well. Full credit to them.

"Looking at the Aberdeen results, they've been excellent. When it comes round, it will be a good game."

Ethan Ross struck a penalty deep into stoppage time as cinch League One leaders Falkirk maintained their unbeaten record with a 2-2 draw at bottom club Edinburgh City.

Kick-off had been delayed by 30 minutes because of issues with safety barriers at Meadowbank Stadium.

Falkirk were stunned as Callum Flatman headed Edinburgh in front in the 28th minute and Alieau Faye soon doubled the lead.

Substitute Calvin Miller pulled a goal back for the Bairns early in the second half.

Just when it seemed like John McGlynn’s side were set for a first league defeat of the season, Coll Donaldson was brought down and Ross kept his cool from the spot to deny Edinburgh a memorable win.

Hamilton are now nine points behind after they beat third-placed Cove Rangers 2-0 at New Douglas Park, where both sides had a player sent off.

Kevin O’Hara gave the hosts an early lead before midfielder Ben Williamson was shown a straight red card for a foul on Kyle Connell.

Jamie Barjonas added a second with 20 minutes left, with Cove defender Michael Doyle then dismissed for a second caution.

Callum Crane scored and was then sent off for violent conduct as Stirling won 1-0 at fourth-placed Montrose.

Tommy Goss’ second-half goal earned relegation-battlers Annan a 1-1 draw at Kelty Hearts, who had gone in front through a penalty from Alfie Bavidge.

It also finished 1-1 between Queen of the South and Alloa at Palmerston Park.

In cinch League Two, Stenhousemuir moved 14 points clear at the top with a 2-0 win at Spartans, where Matt Yates and Matthew Aitken scored in each half.

Peterhead lost ground after a 2-0 defeat at Stranraer.

Chris Johnston and Tam Orr scored either side of the break, with Peterhead midfielder Andrew McCarthy sent off late on.

Dumbarton closed up to within a point of third-placed Spartans with a 1-1 draw at Bonnyrigg Rose.

Russell McLean scored a stoppage-time penalty as Forfar came from behind to beat fellow relegation-battlers Elgin 2-1 at Station Park after Bryan Cameron had been sent off for conceding the late spot-kick.

Bottom side Clyde came from behind to draw 1-1 at East Fife, while it also finished 1-1 between Bonnyrigg Rose and Dumbarton at New Dundas Park.

Falkirk stretched their lead at the top of cinch League One to 11 points after a 4-0 thrashing of third-placed Cove Rangers.

Callumn Morrison fired the Bairns on the way to their sixth-consecutive win two minutes before half-time, and Liam Henderson added a second shortly after the restart.

Morrison latched onto a ball from Aidan Nesbitt to hit Falkirk’s third from a tight angle after 65 minutes and Gary Oliver rammed home the fourth, two minutes from time.

The result means promotion-chasing Cove are now without a win in three games since last month’s 7-2 thrashing of Edinburgh City.

Falkirk consolidated their place at the top of cinch League One with a 2-1 win over bottom club Edinburgh City.

Innes Murray had given the visitors an unexpected lead in the ninth minute.

Aidan Nesbitt, though, hauled the Bairns level just before half-time and Ross Maciver struck in the 66th minute to complete the turnaround.

Second-placed Hamilton kept up the pressure with a 5-0 win over Stirling at New Douglas Park, where Kevin O’Hara scored a hat-trick.

O’Hara opened the scoring in the 14th minute, with Euan Henderson doubling the lead ahead of half-time.

It was 3-0 when O’Hara struck again just before the hour, with Henderson then getting his second before O’Hara completed his treble with 12 minutes left.

Stirling finished with 10 men after a late red card for substitute Dale Hilson.

In-form Cove Rangers sit fourth after Rumarn Burrell’s early goal gave them a 1-0 win at Kelty Hearts, which was a fourth straight league victory.

Montrose were held to a 1-1 draw at home by strugglers Annan.

Tommy Goss put the visitors ahead from a first-half penalty, but Kerr Waddell had the Gable Endies level with 20 minutes left.

Alloa beat Queen of the South 1-0 with a goal from Alistair Roy just after the hour.

In League Two, Joe McKee’s late goal gave leaders Peterhead a 3-2 win over Stranraer.

Second-placed Dumbarton won 1-0 at East Fife with an early strike from Kalvin Orsi.

Matthew Aitken struck twice in the space of three minutes midway through the second half as Stenhousemuir battled to a 3-2 win over Spartans at Ochilview Park.

Elgin City climbed off the bottom with a 2-0 win over Bonnyrigg Rose, with goals either side of half-time from Rory MacEwan and Connal Ewan.

Clyde dropped to the foot of the table after a 1-1 draw at Forfar.

Connor Young put the Bully Wee ahead in the 71st minute which looked enough for a crucial win, only for Stuart Morrison to score an 89th-minute equaliser.

Callumn Morrison struck in the third minute of added time as Falkirk claimed a seventh successive win in Scottish League One after a tense 3-2 win over Montrose.

Blair Lyons put Montrose, who were on a four-match winning run of their own, ahead just after half-time but substitute Gary Oliver levelled in the 62nd minute.

Morrison’s penalty was cancelled out by a spot-kick from Graham Webster, but the Falkirk winger had the final say as he netted in stoppage time as the Bairns returned to the top of the table.

Edinburgh are still awaiting their first win of the season after Alistair Roy’s second-half header rescued a 1-1 draw for Alloa.

The capital club looked on course to end their drought Robbie Leitch put them ahead just after the hour but Roy headed home in the 69th minute to ensure a share of the spoils.

Kelty Hearts leapfrogged Queen of the South and up into fifth in the table with a 3-1 victory.

Jake Hutchinson gave the Doonhammers the lead but Lewis Moore’s penalty quickly evened things up before Reece Lyon and Michael Tidser secured all three points.

Scott Ross and Kieran Shanks each bagged a brace as Peterhead stormed to the top of the Scottish League Two table with a 6-0 thumping of Elgin.

Ross and Rory McAllister struck within the first four minutes before Shanks put Peterhead three up after half-time. Ross scored again as did Shanks from the penalty spot before substitute Hamish Ritchie completed the rout.

Stenhousemuir were knocked off top spot after squandering a 2-0 lead in a 2-2 draw against Clyde.

Gregor Buchanan and Matt Yates put the Warriors on course for the win but Logan Dunachie halved the deficit before Edin Lynch put into his own net as Clyde walked away from Ochilview Park with a point.

Goals from Tony Wallace, Ryan Wallace and Michael Ruth helped Dumbarton claim a come-from-behind 3-1 win over Stranraer, who had gone ahead through Ben Armour.

Rhys Armstrong and Cameron Russell scored as Spartans came from 2-0 down to claim a 2-2 draw against Bonnyrigg Rose, whose goals came from Ross Gray and Lee Currie.

Stuart Morrison earned Forfar a 1-1 draw at East Fife, who had taken the lead through Alan Trouten.