2006-11-12: St. Mirren 1-3 Celtic, Premier League

Match Pictures | Matches: 2006 – 2007 | 2006-07 Pictures

Trivia

  • Thomas Gravesen helped himself to a hat-trick as Celtic held off a strong St Mirren at Love Street.
  • Celtic are now a commanding 15 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League.

Review

Celtic got off to a dream opening.

In a well-worked move, Lee Naylor floated in a cross and Miller cleverly left Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's headed assist into Gravesen's path. And the former Danish international – who has made a muted start to his Parkhead career – responded by drilling a right foot shot from 12 yards past the outstretched Tony Bullock.

And the Buddies paid the price for casual defending when Gravesen fired home the second. A string of defenders stood off the midfielder as he picked up Gary Caldwell's pass inside Saints' half, and his subsequent shot took the slightest of deflections to beat Bullock.

Celtic then had a strong penalty claim turned down when Kirk Broadfoot halted Miller in his tracks in the 39th minute with a mistimed challenge.
Mehmet almost netted with a superb header from fully 18 yards, but the ball cracked off Artur Boruc's post.

But the Saints pulled a goal back immediately when Sutton bulleted a header from six yards beyond Boruc, after Simon Lappin's teasing cross eluded McManus.

Saints, however, were sunk when Gravesen headed his, and Celtic's, third. From a corner on the left, the former Real Madrid man flicked a header and although Garry Brady cleared, the ball was over the goal line.

Maciej Zurawski should have wrapped up the match in the latter stages but the Pole's angled effort went wide after a pinpoint pass from Nakamura.

Teams

St. Mirren:-
Bullock, McGowne (Reid 30), Millen, Broadfoot, Van Zanten, Brittain, Brady (Burke 73), Murray, Lappin, Sutton, Mehmet (Kean 75).
 Subs not used:- Smith, Molloy, McCay, McKenna.
 Goal:- Sutton 56.
 Booked:- Murray, Sutton.

Celtic:-
Boruc, Telfer, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Lennon, Graveson, Maloney (Sno 65), Vennegoor of Hesselink (Jarosik 86), Miller (Zurawski 61).
 Subs not used:- Marshall, Balde, O'Dea, McGeady.
 Goals:- Gravesen 2, 21, 68.

Att:- 8445
 Ref:- S Dougal.

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St Mirren 1-3 Celtic

By Julian Taylor

BBC
Thomas Gravesen helped himself to a hat-trick as Celtic held off a strong St Mirren at Love Street.

The Dane fired home after two minutes and added a second 19 minutes later with a crisp shot.

Saints showed excellent spirit after the break, and after Billy Mehmet crashed a header against the post, John Sutton obliged in the 56th minute.

But Celtic settled and Gravesen glanced a header home after 69 minutes despite Garry Brady's desperate clearance.

The Hoops are now a commanding 15 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League, but it was a hard-earned victory.

St Mirren boss Gus MacPherson kept the same team that drew 0-0 with Motherwell last week with Sutton and Mehmet in attack.

For Celtic, out went Derek Riordan, Stephen Pearson, Aiden McGeady and Bobo Balde from the side knocked out of the CIS Insurance Cup by Falkirk in midweek, with only the latter two starting on the bench.

Kenny Miller, Shunsuke Nakamura, captain Neil Lennon and Stephen McManus returned.

And Gordon Strachan's side got off to a dream opening.

In a well-worked move, Lee Naylor floated in a cross and Miller cleverly left Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's headed assist into Gravesen's path.

And the former Danish international – who has made a muted start to his Parkhead career – responded by drilling a right foot shot from 12 yards past the outstretched Tony Bullock.

The home side were rattled in the following minutes, and despite a valiant attempt to regain their composure, it looked a long way back for them even so early in the game.

And the Buddies paid the price for casual defending when Gravesen fired home the second.

A string of defenders stood off the midfielder as he picked up Gary Caldwell's pass inside Saints' half, and his subsequent shot took the slightest of deflections to beat Bullock.

The Glasgow side had a strong penalty claim turned down when Kirk Broadfoot halted Miller in his tracks in the 39th minute with a mistimed challenge.

St Mirren responded after the interval in positive fashion, and battled for everything against the league leaders.

Mehmet almost netted with a superb header from fully 18 yards, but the ball cracked off Artur Boruc's post.

But the Paisley outfit pulled a goal back immediately when Sutton bulleted a header from six yards beyond Boruc, after Simon Lappin's teasing cross eluded McManus.

Celtic were certainly being knocked out of their stride.

Evander Sno – called into the full Holland international squad last week – replaced Shaun Maloney who had picked up a knock, with the game at full tempo.

Saints, however, were sunk when Gravesen headed his, and Celtic's, third.

From a corner on the left, the former Real Madrid man flicked a header and although Garry Brady cleared, the ball was over the goal line.

Maciej Zurawski should have wrapped up the match in the latter stages but the Pole's angled effort went wide after a pinpoint pass from Nakamura.

But it mattered little in the end as the champions saw out the rest of the match content with full points.

St Mirren: Bullock, van Zanten, McGowne (Reid 30), Millen, Broadfoot, Brittain, Murray, Brady (Burke 73), Lappin, Sutton, Mehmet (Kean 75). Subs Not Used: Smith, Molloy, Mackay, McKenna.

Booked: Murray, Mehmet.

Goal: Sutton 56.

Celtic: Boruc, Telfer, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Lennon, Gravesen, Maloney (Sno 66), Miller (Zurawski 61), Vennegoor of Hesselink (Jarosik 86). Subs Not Used: Marshall, McGeady, O'Dea, Balde.

Goals: Gravesen 2, 21, 69.

Att: 8,445

Ref: S Dougal

Strachan happy with win at Saints

BBC
Celtic boss Gordon Strachan was pleased after a Thomas Gravesen hat-trick in a 3-1 win at St Mirren took the Hoops 15 points clear at the top of the SPL.

He said: "We were conscious of a good start and St Mirren made things difficult for us.

"However, although we didn't kill them off until late on it's certainly a good win overall.

"I'm pleased for Thomas, but he has to improve his fitness. But you can't ask for much more than three goals today."

Strachan praises goalscorer Gravesen

Shaun Maloney picked up a knock and was replaced by Evander Sno in the second half.

And Strachan added: "Shaun picked up a calf knock but we have to see how bad it is.

"It's possible he could be out of the Scotland B squad to play Republic of Ireland."

Celtic deserved win – MacPherson

Gus MacPherson
BBC
St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson concedes his players were caught cold as Celtic won 3-1 at Love Street.

He said: "Celtic scored early on and then added another quite quickly after that so we knew it would be difficult to react.

"We were caught in the headlights a bit and it was very difficult for them.

"Celtic played with a lot of confidence and moved the ball quickly. We changed things and got a bit of spirit back but it wasn't to be today."

MacPherson pleased with fighting spirit

Thomas Gravsen netted a hat-trick for the Hoops, but an improved Buddies' display in the second period saw John Sutton pull a goal back 11 minutes after the interval before Gravesen grabbed his third.