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Trivia
- Celtic striker David Fernandez fired a double reminder to manager Martin O'Neill not to leave him out once the Scottish Premier League starts on Saturday.
- Game played after a day of torrential rain which caused serious flooding in west of Scotland.
- The referee is Kevin Toner, son of ex-Celt & Kilmarnock great Willie Toner.
Review
Gould was the first goalkeeper called into action and he was behind a Jamie McGowan header from a free-kick.
Celtic counter-attacked with a move which saw Larsson almost set up Fernandez at the far post.
Bobby Petta saw a shot deflected away for corner before Crainey blasted a long-ranger over as the tone of the game was established early.
Balde came forward to plant a shot on the turn on target after Colin Healy had seen a shot blocked. Saints keeper Ludo Roy was behind that one and that was also the case when Larsson let fly from distance.
A goal was coming and Fernandez provided it in the 16th minute when he fired a low drive past Roy from just inside the area after Saints had failed to clear the corner.
Fernandez slid in to convert the second on the half hour mark after a clever ball from Larsson had allowed Jamie Smith to set him up in front of goal.
Larsson had a chance himself just seconds later but Roy came off his line smartly to block. Larsson curled a free-kick just wide after referee Kevin Toner had told Neil Lennon and impressive youngster Richard Robb to cool down following a clash.
Robertson had to come off his line to block from Sylla before Shaun Maloney replaced Fernandez.
The final few minutes saw Celtic youngsters Simon Lynch and Liam Miller given a run-out. Maloney was denied by Robertson's tip round of his low drive before Miller dived at the far post to head his side's third.
Larsson poked the ball past both goalkeeper and far post before Maloney blasted over on the turn as Celtic continued to mount up the chances without adding to the score.
Teams
St Mirren:-
Roy (Robertson 45), Rudden, McGowan (Broadfoot 54), Robb (Dunbar 76), Kerr, Gillies, Lowing, MacKenzie, Lappin, McGinty (McGinn 56), Guy.
Subs not used:- Dow.
Celtic:-
Gould, Boyd (Lynch 76), Balde, Mjallby (Lambert 45), Crainey, Smith (Sylla 45), Healy, Lennon (Miller 76), Petta (Guppy 45), Larsson, Fernandez (Maloney 76)
Subs not used:- Douglas.
Goals:- Fernandez 16, 31, Miller 79.
Att:- ??
Ref:- Kevin Toner.
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
- Match Report (Sporting Life)
Pictures
Articles
St Mirren 0 Celtic 3 By Jon West, PA Sport
Celtic striker David Fernandez fired a double reminder to manager Martin O'Neill not to leave him out once the Scottish Premier League starts on Saturday.
With Chris Sutton and John Hartson both rested, the £1.25million summer capture from Livingston netted twice before the break, was later denied a hat-trick by the crossbar and combined effectively with Henrik Larsson.
It was a useful work-out for the champions on a wet pitch and against a Saints team that tried hard but was always second best.
With goalkeeper Magnus Hedman and defender Ulrik Laursen close to completing moves to Parkhead, it was also a night for some of the established stars to remind O'Neill of their capabilities.
Bobo Balde had been absent injured for a long while but at last took to the field alongside Johan Mjallby, Tom Boyd and Stephen Crainey in a back four.
Hedman is expected to oust Robert Douglas as the number one goalkeeper but it was the man who made way for Douglas two seasons ago, Jonathan Gould, who played in this one.
Gould was the first goalkeeper called into action and he was behind a Jamie McGowan header from a free-kick.
Celtic counter-attacked with a move which saw Larsson almost set up Fernandez at the far post.
Bobby Petta saw a shot deflected away for corner before Crainey blasted a long-ranger over as the tone of the game was established early.
Balde came forward to plant a shot on the turn on target after Colin Healy had seen a shot blocked.
Saints keeper Ludo Roy was behind that one and that was also the case when Larsson let fly from distance.
Crainey tried again from distance and this time forced a good tip round from Roy.
A goal was coming and Fernandez provided it in the 20th minute when he fired a low drive past Roy from just inside the area after Saints had failed to clear the corner.
Fernandez slid in to convert the second on the half hour mark after a clever ball from Larsson had allowed Jamie Smith to set him up in front of goal.
Larsson had a chance himself just seconds later but Roy came off his line smartly to block.
Saints had found headway difficult but when Ricky Gillies did burst through down the inside right channel Gould was able to divert the shot away.
Larsson curled a free-kick just wide after referee Kevin Toner had told Neil Lennon and impressive youngster Richard Robb to cool down following a clash.
Gillies was back again soon after, taking the ball past Mjallby on his chest before spoiling the move with a shot which was too high.
At the other end, a goalbound Balde header in first half stoppage time was cleared off the line by Simon Lappin.
Paul Lambert, Momo Sylla and Steve Guppy came on for Celtic at the break while Roy was replaced by Kris Robertson in the home goal.
Robertson had to save at Sylla's feet after a swift move involving Larsson and Fernandez.
Then he delighted the crowd with a double block from Larsson before Fernandez was denied a hat-trick only by the crossbar as he jumped to head a Healy cross goalwards.
Gillies fired wide at the other end after good work from Robb as Saints tried to get back in the match.
Robertson had to come off his line to block from Sylla before Shaun Maloney replaced Fernandez.
The final few minutes saw Celtic youngsters Simon Lynch and Liam Miller given a run-out.
Maloney was denied by Robertson's tip round of his low drive before Miller dived at the far post to head his side's third.
Larsson poked the ball past both goalkeeper and far post before Maloney blasted over on the turn as Celtic continued to mount up the chances without adding to the score.