Scottish Football News

Celtic began their SPL title defence on Sunday with a nervy 1-0 win at Celtic Park over cisitors, St. Mirren. It was Barry Robson who fired home a scrappy and controversial second-half penalty to ensure that the SPL Champions began their campaign with three points.

There were emotive scenes before the game kicked off when Rosemary Burns, widow of former Hoops player, manager and coach Tommy Burns, who died in May from cancer at the age of
51, performed the ceremony of unfurling the league flag, accompanied by chairman Brian Quinn and skipper Stephen McManus.

The 60,000 fans inside the stadium were also introduced to their newest recruit, 20-year-old Spanish midfielder Marc Crosas, who signed on a four-year deal from Barcelona and was paraded in the Hoops just before the game got underway. However, the game itself was something of an anti-climax and never really threatened to get out of second-gear for much of the match.

No doubt the Celtic fans believed St Mirren were there simply there in a supporting role but in a low-key start to the match, Saints midfielders Garry Brady and Stephen McGinn both tested Artur Boruc early on without causing the Celtic keeper any real trouble.

In the 17th minute Scott McDonald, Scotland’s top scorer last season, drove a shot from 30 yards wide of the target which riled the home fans, already agitated by the lack of goal action. McDonald really could have done better with strike partner, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselhink in some space.

St Mirren remained neat and tidy and continued to hold their shape, growing in confidence from keeping the Bhoys at bay and a whipped-in cross from defender Franco Miranda may have provided some joy for the Paisley side with a little more commitment from Billy Mehmet.

In the 26th minute McDonald was again in the thick of the action as the little Aussie striker headed an Andreas Hinkel cross over the bar. Moments later, Aiden McGeady lifted the fans by winning a corner with his first contribution of the game inside the St Mirren box when he took on Jack Ross, although that also came to nothing.
The game petered out somewhat as the two teams looked to half-time, but with only two minutes on the clock after the restart, the Love Street side were denied a shock opener only by a fine save from Celtic goalkeeper, Artur Boruc. It was Billy Mehmet who tested the Polish goalkeeper as he and Stephen O’Donnell worked a one-two inside the Celtic box before the Englishman’s right-footed shot was barely tipped onto the post by Boruc and cleared away to safety.

That narrow escape jolted the home side into action and seconds later Gary Caldwell found himself unmarked at the back post when Lee Naylor’s looping free-kick was delivered into the box, but the Scotland international’s tepid header from eight yards out went straight to Howard.

In the 55th minute Vennegoor of Hesselink went down in the box after a challenge from Howard but referee Smith rightly waved away penalty claims. However, the Dutchman was awarded a spot-kick on the hour mark after clashing with Saints defender, Will Haining who had allowed the Dutch striker to get on the wrong side of him as he failed to deal with a Lee Naylor pass.

After the Love Street stopper was sent off, Barry Robson’s penalty put the champions a goal up. It wasn’t the best penalty of Robson’s career and St. Mirren goalkeeper Howard almost managed to keep the ball out after it sruck his legs, but the ball eventually bounced over the line, much to the relief of the former Dundee United player.

Vennegoor of Hesselink should have doubled Celtic’s lead in the 68th minute but somehow managed to head past the post from eight yards out when it seemed easier to score. Celtic made changes with Mark Wilson coming on for Lee Naylor who picked up a knock after a strong challenge, while Greek striker Georgios Samaras replaced Scott McDonald.

But Saints continued to battle valiantly despite being a man down and took some encouragement from the nerves that continued to avail the Hoops’ defence, and in the 84th minute St Mirren substitute Mark McAusland, on for Garry Brady, headed over from new signing Tonet Gilerao’s corner.

A minute later Mehmet fired wide of the target from 12 yards but the home side held out for victory and an opening three points. Fans of Celtic will no doubt bemoan the lack of creativity in their side and will hope that the team pick up in the coming matches. For St. Mirren, they deserved to take something from the game, but like Falkirk on Saturday failed to take their chances.

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