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Trivia
- Goal by St Mirren was scored by 18 year old Stephen McGinn who is the grandson of Jack McGinn (ex-Celtic chairman and member of the old Biscuit Tin board). Very good goal he scored to I have to add.
Review
Celtic moved 20 points clear at the top of the SPL thanks to hat-trick hero Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink. Cold windy day saw many empty seats with some games cancelled in the weekend. Possibly Celtic's best dominating game since Benfica at home months back.
Miller also finally scored a goal after a long time, whilst Beattie played 80mins and was very unlucky not to score but played very well. Graveson was very popular in the game amongst the fans also giving a great performance too.
Teams
Celtic (4-4-2):-
Boruc, Telfer, Pressley, O'Dea, Naylor, Nakamura, Gravesen, Jarosik (61 Sno ), McGeady (70 Riordan ), Vennegoor of Hesselink, Beattie (78 Miller ).
Subs not used:- Brown, Zurawski, Conroy, Cuthbert.
Goals:- Vennegoor of Hesselink 16, 61 pen, McGeady 69, Vennegoor of Hesselink 75, Miller 82.
St Mirren:-
Smith, van Zanten, Millen, Maxwell, Broadfoot, Brady, McGinn (Sutton 71), Brittain, Lappin (Gemmill 82), Reid, Corcoran (Kean 77).
Subs Not Used:- Hinchcliffe, McGowne, Potter, McKenna.
Booked:- Lappin.
Goal:- McGinn 47.
Att:- 58,382
Ref:- C Thomson.
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
- Match Report (BBC)
Pictures
KStreet
- Pre-match
- Match Thread
- Post-Match
- MOTM Voting
- Winner – Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink – (Link to MOTM Winners 2006-07)
STATS
Celtic – St Mirren
Possession
62% 38%
Shots on target
7 2
Shots off target
7 2
Corners
7 0
Fouls
4 9
Articles
Celtic 5-1 St Mirren
BBC
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink fired a hat-trick to help Celtic move 20 points clear at the top of the SPL.
Hesselink gave Celtic the lead after 16 minutes when he headed home Shunsuke Nakamura's corner.
St Mirren equalised in the 46th minute through Stephen McGinn's crisp strike from the edge of the box.
Hesselink got his second from the penalty spot. Aiden McGeady fired home before Hesselink got his third and Kenny Miller ended his goal drought.
Interview: Celtic manager Gordon Strachan
Interview: St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan gave Craig Beattie a start in attack alongside Hesselink for the visit of St Mirren.
Beattie replaced Maciej Zurawski who dropped to the bench, while midfielder Aiden McGeady came in for Evander Sno who also started as substitute.
Goalkeeper Mark Brown, who signed from Inverness, was also on the bench for the SPL leaders.
MY SPORT DEBATE: Give your thoughts on the match
St Mirren showed three changes from the side which lost their Scottish Cup third-round tie against Dundee United in midweek.
Goalkeeper Chris Smith replaced Tony Bullock, while John Potter and John Sutton dropped to the bench, their places taken by Alan Reid and Stephen McGinn.
Celtic started brightly, with Beattie linking up well with Hesselink and Thomas Gravesen looking to put the Buddies' defence under pressure.
Aiden McGeady and Kirk Broadfoot
Aiden McGeady and Kirk Broadfoot tussle for the ball
Hesselink lost his marker in the box and headed home from Nakamura's corner after 16 minutes.
McGeady's crisp half-volley cleared the bar after 38 minutes as Celtic pressed for a second goal.
St Mirren came roaring back and fashioned an equaliser through McGinn's rasping shot into the top left-hand corner.
The Buddies' goal stung the home side into action and Celtic restored their lead from the penalty shot.
Nakamura made his way into the box only to be felled by Simon Lappin. The referee pointed to the spot and Hesselink fired home.
McGeady made it 3-1 to Celtic when he converted Craig Beattie's cross after 69 minutes as the home side looked to add to their tally.
St Mirren's defence began to wilt under the pressure and Hesselink completed his hat-trick after 74 minutes when he collected Beattie's cross and swept the ball past Smith.
Miller then ended his goal drought by firing home Celtic's fifth with a smart finish from inside the six-yard box to end his run of 15 games without a goal.
Celtic: Boruc, Telfer, Pressley, O'Dea, Naylor, Nakamura, Gravesen, Jarosik (Sno 61), McGeady (Riordan 70), Vennegoor of Hesselink, Beattie (Miller 78). Subs Not Used: Brown, Zurawski, Conroy, Cuthbert.
Goals: Vennegoor of Hesselink 16, 61 pen, McGeady 69, Vennegoor of Hesselink 75, Miller 82.
St Mirren: Smith, van Zanten, Millen, Maxwell, Broadfoot, Brady, McGinn (Sutton 71), Brittain, Lappin (Gemmill 82), Reid, Corcoran (Kean 77). Subs Not Used: Hinchcliffe, McGowne, Potter, McKenna.
Booked: Lappin.
Goals: McGinn 47.
Att: 58,382
Ref: C Thomson