Rodgers praises Alloa as Celtic make League Cup last 4
The manager says they knew it was going to be a tough game
Brendan Rodgers declared it was a case of job done and no more after Celtic beat League One side Alloa 2-0 at Parkhead with two late goals to book a place in the Betfred Cup semi-finals.
The Hoops missed a host of chances with left-back Kieran Tierney hitting the bar and visiting keeper Neil Parry making several saves before James Forrest got the breakthrough in the 83rd minute with Moussa Dembele adding a second in the final minute.
Manager Rodgers said: "The main objective tonight was to qualify.
"We knew it was going to be a tough game for us.
"In the group stages Alloa beat Inverness and Ross County so we knew they had great resilience in the team, great mentality and character to defend and they proved that.
"We had a lot of chances in the first half and didn't take them and of course when you don't take them as the game moves on you can become a little but edgy but we showed great patience in the end and scored two.
"I wasn't pleased at half-time. We have to be more clinical than that.
"We had 13 shots on target and probably another 13 which weren't on target so to score only the two goals was disappointing. You have to be more ruthless than that.
"The name of the game was being patient but we needed to be much better
"Credit to Alloa to come here and defend the way they did and play the way they did was fantastic.
"We deserve the credit for the patience but performance-wise we will obviously play much better."
Celtic join Rangers and Championship side Morton in the semi-final draw which will take place after the Aberdeen versus St Johnstone quarter-final on Thursday night.
Alloa boss Jack Ross thought returning Hoops goalkeeper Craig Gordon was fortunate to only get a yellow card in the first half for his high challenge on Wasps striker Greig Spence outside the box.
He said: "I was asked the question first before I had seen it again.
"My question to the fourth official at the time was, was it a goalscoring opportunity and he said he didn't think it was an obvious one so that was fine.
"Having now seen the pictures, the actual type of foul - I think if an outfield player makes that challenge it is a red card.
"If one of my midfielders makes that in the middle of the park, as high as that, it is a red card.
"Having seen it now it is a dangerous challenge and I think it should have been a red.
"However, what I would say to temper that is that we carried good fortune in that game at times.
"Our goalkeeper played well but equally we got breaks at important times in terms of some of the chances Celtic missed so I wouldn't complain about it."
Asked about the Gordon incident, Rodgers said: "I haven't seen it clearly again. The fourth official and linesman were blocking me. I will have a look at it."