2009-11-28: Celtic 3-1 St Mirren, SPL

Match Pictures | Matches: 2009 – 2010 | 2009-2010 Pictures

Trivia

  • Celtic back on top after Rangers defeated by Aberdeen 1-0 earlier in day. Celtic now lead by 2pts on 27pts with Hibs & Huns on 25pts but Huns have 1 game in hand. Dundee utd are on 23pts with 1 game in hand.
  • Zhang Zhi grabbed his first goal but that was wrongly chopped off.
  • Skippy almost got a hat-trick, missing his penalty which would have got him it.
  • St Mirren player was wrongly yellow then redcarded for two yellows by the referee before he got that wrong and called the player back as he hadn't a previous yellow card. Saying that he should have still been off for the handball which got us the penalty.
  • Huns got papped out of Europe again this week meaning they'd lost all their home games again in the Champs League so at least something was going right there.

Review

Not too bad from us, and in truth we should have more comfortably won this game. St Mirren were poor but our side is not firing as well as we should. Some better performances today with McGeady impressing and Skippy grabbing a double. Zhang Zhi grabbed his first goal but the referee wrongly chopped it off unfairly. A St Mirren player was wrongly yellow then redcarded for two yellows by the referee before he got that wrong and called the player back as he hadn't a previous yellow card. Saying that he should have still been off for the handball which got us the penalty.

Anyhow, better than usual. Europa League action next at home.

Teams

Celtic

  • 24Zaluska
  • 02Hinkel
  • 05Caldwell; yellow card
  • 11Fox
  • 22Loovens
  • 06N'Guemo
  • 17Crosas
  • 27Zhi; (Robson 85)
  • 46McGeady; (McGinn 87)
  • 07McDonald
  • 09Samaras; (Fortune 64)

Substitutes

  • 47Cervi,
  • 04McManus,
  • 38Thompson,
  • 14McGinn,
  • 19Robson,
  • 36Carey,
  • 10Fortune

Goals

  • Innes (og) 39
  • Samaras 42
  • McDonald 61

St Mirren

  • 01Gallacher
  • 05Mair; yellow card
  • 19Barron
  • 21Innes; yellow card
  • 02Ross
  • 04McGinn; (Johnston 67)
  • 07Murray; (Dargo 79)
  • 08Dorman; (Higdon 19)
  • 10Thomson
  • 14Brady
  • 09Mehmet

Goals

  • Higdon 45

Substitutes

  • 20Howard,
  • 06Potter,
  • 27Mclean,
  • 28Devlin,
  • 41Johnston,
  • 11Higdon,
  • 18Dargo
Ref: Conroy
Att: 41,000

Articles

Pictures

KStreet

MOTM

Stats

Possession

  • Celtic 62%
  • St Mirren 38%

Attempts on target

  • Celtic 10
  • St Mirren 4

Attempts off target

  • Celtic 5
  • St Mirren 2

Corners

  • Celtic 6
  • St Mirren 4

Fouls

  • Celtic 7
  • St Mirren 13

Articles

Celtic go Scott free

29 November 2009

Provided by: The Sunday Times

THEY began with a bit of a stutter, but finished with a statement of intent. The Celtic team which almost stumbled into yesterday's match with St Mirren had nothing of the swagger of the one that finished it. The victory takes them to the top of the Premier League and might even restore some of the confidence that has been missing too often of late. This wasn't an afternoon that saw Tony Mowbray come up with all the answers, but developed into one that should bring a halt, however temporary, to the constant questioning of the Celtic manager's methods.
"I will always be a performance-driven manager, and we are trying to play with style, but for the team at the moment, today was about the three points," conceded Mowbray.
"There was a considerable amount of pressure on the team, but they overcame any potential anxiety for a positive result. We're going to strive for consistency now and see where that takes us."
Scott McDonald, whose goals here made the difference, made the same admission with a little humour. "To be as bad as we have been at times, and still be top, is a bonus I suppose," quipped the Australian forward.
St Mirren were forced into a change on 19 minutes when Andy Dorman, deployed behind the main frontman Billy Mehmet in a 4-4-1-1 formation, collapsed to the ground with a hamstring problem. To Gus MacPherson's credit he stayed positive, declining a midfield option and instead sending on Michael Higdon as a second striker. Celtic had offered little to suggest this was a risk. Aiden McGeady and Andreas Hinkel had combined well on the right to set up McDonald for a volley over, but that was about it.
A loose Danny Fox pass on 25 minutes prompted the first obvious signs of exasperation from the home support. Mowbray had urged the Celtic fans to "stick together", but at this juncture they were united only in their impatient complaints. It wasn't that St Mirren were doing all that much to worry Celtic, but they were looking a troubled team. Aside from McGeady's efforts, there was very little being created apart from frustration.
Celtic badly needed a goal to change the prevailing mood and they got it after 38 minutes. Georgios Samaras had time at the edge of the area to pick out McDonald's run with Mair static, and the Australian's shot, already goalbound, was helped beyond Gallacher with the aid of a deflection from the outstretched leg of Innes. "It was going in as far as I'm concerned," said McDonald. St Mirren pushed forward, but this created space that wasn't there before for Celtic. Landry N'Guemo lost possession, but this time the supporters, calmed by the goal, didn't turn on their own player, and cheered when he atoned for his error by winning the ball back. That tackle played in McGeady who sprang forward on the break, running with the ball until spying Samaras to his right, who placed his effort in nicely.
There was the immediate feeling Celtic had done enough and perhaps, to their cost, they shared it. Complacent defending by Marc Crosas when dealing with a rather hopeful Mehmet cross allowed Higdon in behind him at the far post and the substitute scored from a narrow angle. When the screens inside the stadium replayed the first-half highlights, they rather conveniently left the St Mirren goal out. Beat that for selective editing.
There was a nervousness to Celtic after the restart, as if unsure whether to hold what they had or pursue a third goal. They eventually opted for the latter and in some style. Gary Caldwell's long ball upfield was controlled brilliantly on the run by McGeady and his low cross was turned in by McDonald.
Even Mowbray, who insists he treats being Celtic manager as only a job to be done, must have enjoyed that one. The kind of moment he works for. "We could have defended all three goals better," said MacPherson.
There was a fluency to Celtic now and they would have had a fourth goal had Zheng Zhi not been ruled offside when he thumped the ball in from close range. There was still time for Marc-Antoine Fortune to manage a wild miss from a Hinkel cross, a gentle reminder that not everything yet is right about Celtic. Fox's swerving late drive would have been a nice finishing touch, but Gallacher's stop denied that.
From the resulting corner delivered by Barry Robson, the substitute, Innes handled for a penalty and was given a second yellow card by Steve Conroy, the referee. Problem was he hadn't ever issued him a first caution. After Innes had trudged off, he was recalled from the dressing-room, still putting his shirt back on as he re-entered play in time to see Gallacher superbly save McDonald's penalty and the rebound. CELTIC: Zaluska 6, Hinkel 7, Loovens 6, Caldwell 7, Fox 5; McGeady 8 (McGinn 88mins), Crosas 5, N'Guemo 7, Zheng Zhi 5 (Robson 85mins); Samaras 7 (Fortune 64mins), McDonald 7 ST MIRREN: Gallacher 7, Ross 7, Innes 5, Mair 4, Barron 6; Brady 5, Murray 5 (Dargo 79mins), Thomson 6, McGinn 6 (Johnston 67mins); Dorman 5 (Higdon 19mins, 7); Mehmet 6
(c) 2009 Times Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved
The Sunday Times

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray:
"It was important just to win today. We didn't fluke it today, we could have won by more. We're happy to take the points.

"If we're going to be successful over a long, long period of time, we've got to make sure that the performance level is good and that we win by playing well every week but today we needed the three points.
"It was a pressurised day for us but we came through. Today, we did enough to win the football match and build on that.
"(The goal St Mirren scored) probably typifies us a little bit in the way we make things difficult for ourselves.
"But again we'll go through the process and ultimately we'll get to the point where the games won't be edgy, the games will be a confident, fast-flowing team believing that they're going to win every match but you have to go through the process we're going through at the moment.
"Scott's frustrated he didn't manage to tuck that penalty away to give himself a hat-trick but that's football."

St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson:
"I can complain about the manner of our defending, how poor the goals we lost were because I thought we had done the hardest bit in containing Celtic for the first 30 minutes. But then we got sloppy.

"We passed the ball reasonably well but then we got a wee bit casual and Celtic punished us for the silly mistakes that we made and that can happen.
"We got back into the game and made it 2-1 and we said at half-time that a second goal for us was going to be crucial if we could get it because I think there would've caused a different atmosphere in the stadium.
"But again, we lost a poor goal.
"Mr Conroy thought Chris Innes had previously been booked. It wasn't until I had seen a couple of players complain that I realised that it was Lee Mair that had got booked earlier.
"We had a real strong shout for a free-kick on the edge of the box before Celtic scored the first goal. It's as clear a free-kick as you'll get – a tackle from behind and the ball's not won."

  • Final Result
  • Full Time
  • 90:00+3:12 The final whistle goes and the game is over.
  • 90:00+2:01 Corner from left by-line taken by Barry Robson.
  • 90:00+0:57 Placed penalty taken by Scott McDonald saved by Paul Gallacher. Celtic 3-1 St Mirren.
  • 90:00+0:57 Booking Chris Innes goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.
  • 90:00+0:06 Chris Innes is penalised for handball and concedes a .
  • 89:29 Corner from right by-line taken by Barry Robson.
  • 89:20 Daniel Fox takes a shot. Save by Paul Gallacher.
  • 88:33 Barry Robson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Allan Johnston. Paul Gallacher restarts play with the free kick.
  • 86:41 Substitution Aiden McGeady leaves the field to be replaced by Niall McGinn.
  • 86:29 Marc-Antoine Fortune has an effort at goal from close in which goes wide right of the target.
  • 84:55 Craig Dargo takes a shot. Save by Lukasz Zaluska.
  • 84:24 Substitution Barry Robson comes on in place of Zheng Zhi.
  • 83:45 The referee blows for offside. Paul Gallacher takes the indirect free kick.
  • 81:29 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jack Ross by Marc-Antoine Fortune. Jack Ross restarts play with the free kick.
  • 80:51 Aiden McGeady takes a shot from just outside the penalty area which clears the crossbar.
  • 79:38 Effort from deep inside the area by Marc-Antoine Fortune clears the bar.
  • 78:29 Substitution Hugh Murray leaves the field to be replaced by Craig Dargo.
  • 77:44 Gary Caldwell challenges Michael Higdon unfairly and gives away a free kick. The ball is sent over by Jack Ross, Effort on goal by Billy Mehmet from inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the bar.
  • 76:50 Corner taken right-footed by Garry Brady to the near post, Marc Crosas manages to make a clearance.
  • 75:13 The assistant referee signals for offside against Scott McDonald. Paul Gallacher takes the free kick.
  • 74:56 Marc Crosas decides to take a short corner.
  • 74:11 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Zheng Zhi by Hugh Murray. Daniel Fox fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
  • 72:59 The ball is delivered by Marc-Antoine Fortune, clearance by Lee Mair.
  • 71:19 The official flags Billy Mehmet offside. Glenn Loovens restarts play with the free kick.
  • 70:12 Gary Caldwell fouled by Billy Mehmet, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Lukasz Zaluska.
  • 69:44 Corner taken by Garry Brady, clearance by Gary Caldwell.
  • Correction – 68:24 Shot on goal comes in from Jack Ross from the free kick, blocked by Gary Caldwell.
  • 68:24 Jack Ross takes the free kick.
  • 68:24 Booking Gary Caldwell goes into the referee's book.
  • 68:03 Gary Caldwell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Michael Higdon.
  • 66:18 Substitution Allan Johnston joins the action as a substitute, replacing Stephen McGinn.
  • 64:42 Marc-Antoine Fortune takes a shot. Save by Paul Gallacher.
  • 64:12 Scott McDonald fouled by Chris Innes, the ref awards a free kick. Daniel Fox restarts play with the free kick.
  • 63:49 Substitution Marc-Antoine Fortune on for Georgios Samaras.
  • 62:11 Scott McDonald takes a shot. Blocked by Lee Mair.
  • 60:24 Aiden McGeady provided the assist for the goal.
  • 60:24 GOAL – Scott McDonald:Celtic 3 – 1 St Mirren Scott McDonald finds the net with a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Celtic 3-1 St Mirren.
  • 59:39 Free kick awarded for a foul by Billy Mehmet on Zheng Zhi. Daniel Fox takes the direct free kick.
  • 56:57 Georgios Samaras fouled by Chris Innes, the ref awards a free kick. Daniel Fox restarts play with the free kick.
  • 55:49 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Daniel Fox, Paul Gallacher makes a save.
  • 55:45 Aiden McGeady produces a cross, Chris Innes manages to make a clearance.
  • 54:03 The referee blows for offside against Michael Higdon. Lukasz Zaluska takes the indirect free kick.
  • 53:47 Andreas Hinkel takes a shot. Save by Paul Gallacher.
  • 53:02 A cross is delivered by Aiden McGeady, Chris Innes manages to make a clearance.
  • 51:32 Marc Crosas fouled by Michael Higdon, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Landry N'Guemo.
  • 49:36 Corner taken by Daniel Fox from the right by-line, save by Paul Gallacher.
  • 47:59 Free kick taken by Gary Caldwell.
  • 47:59 Booking Booking for Lee Mair.
  • 47:52 Lee Mair challenges Georgios Samaras unfairly and gives away a free kick.
  • 46:31 The ball is swung over by Jack Ross, Marc Crosas manages to make a clearance.
  • 45:01 The referee gets the second half started.
  • Half Time
  • 45:00+2:10 The match has reached half-time.
  • 45:00+1:47 Georgios Samaras sends in a cross, clearance by David Barron.
  • 45:00+0:41 Georgios Samaras is caught offside. Paul Gallacher restarts play with the free kick.
  • 44:27 Assist on the goal came from Billy Mehmet.
  • 44:27 GOAL – Michael Higdon:Celtic 2 – 1 St Mirren Michael Higdon finds the back of the net with a goal from close range high into the middle of the goal. Celtic 2-1 St Mirren.
  • 43:10 Outswinging corner taken by Garry Brady from the right by-line.
  • 43:01 Billy Mehmet takes a shot. Blocked by Zheng Zhi.
  • 42:12 Unfair challenge on Michael Higdon by Gary Caldwell results in a free kick. Jack Ross takes the free kick.
  • 41:07 Assist by Aiden McGeady.
  • 41:07 GOAL – Georgios Samaras:Celtic 2 – 0 St Mirren Goal scored by Georgios Samaras from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Celtic 2-0 St Mirren.
  • 40:26 Headed effort from inside the area by Chris Innes misses to the left of the goal.
  • 40:19 Hugh Murray sends in a cross, save made by Lukasz Zaluska.
  • 40:00 Garry Brady decides to take a short corner.
  • 39:29 Free kick awarded for a foul by Gary Caldwell on Michael Higdon. Free kick taken by Jack Ross.
  • 38:09 GOAL – Chris Innes:Celtic 1 – 0 St Mirren Chris Innes puts the ball into his own goal from 6 yards. Celtic 1-0 St Mirren.
  • 35:57 Daniel Fox fouled by Jack Ross, the ref awards a free kick. Lukasz Zaluska restarts play with the free kick.
  • 34:09 Centre by Andreas Hinkel.
  • 31:21 Aiden McGeady takes a shot. Save made by Paul Gallacher.
  • 30:27 Aiden McGeady takes a shot. Blocked by Lee Mair.
  • 30:09 The ball is swung over by Andreas Hinkel, clearance made by Chris Innes.
  • 30:01 Andreas Hinkel sends in a cross.
  • 29:29 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gary Caldwell by Michael Higdon. Glenn Loovens restarts play with the free kick.
  • 28:28 Daniel Fox takes a corner.
  • 27:37 Billy Mehmet is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Lukasz Zaluska takes the indirect free kick.
  • 27:23 Aiden McGeady produces a cross, Jack Ross manages to make a clearance.
  • 26:47 The ball is delivered by Daniel Fox, Chris Innes manages to make a clearance.
  • 25:59 Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael Higdon on Andreas Hinkel. Lukasz Zaluska takes the free kick.
  • 25:19 A cross is delivered by Garry Brady, clearance by Marc Crosas.
  • 25:11 Centre by Jack Ross, clearance made by Glenn Loovens.
  • 24:36 Foul by Billy Mehmet on Gary Caldwell, free kick awarded. Gary Caldwell takes the free kick.
  • 24:15 Daniel Fox produces a cross, save made by Paul Gallacher.
  • 23:27 The assistant referee signals for offside against Billy Mehmet. Lukasz Zaluska restarts play with the free kick.
  • 22:48 Centre by Andreas Hinkel, save by Paul Gallacher.
  • 22:23 Hugh Murray concedes a free kick for a foul on Zheng Zhi. Landry N'Guemo takes the free kick.
  • 18:29 Substitution Michael Higdon joins the action as a substitute, replacing Andy Dorman.
  • 15:27 Scott McDonald has an effort at goal from close in which goes wide right of the target.
  • 14:51 The ball is crossed by Daniel Fox, save by Paul Gallacher.
  • 11:37 Georgios Samaras produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the goal.
  • 10:48 Chris Innes fouled by Scott McDonald, the ref awards a free kick. Paul Gallacher restarts play with the free kick.
  • 10:43 The ball is sent over by Aiden McGeady, clearance made by Chris Innes.
  • 9:14 The ball is sent over by Daniel Fox, Lee Mair makes a clearance.
  • 8:37 David Barron is ruled offside. Gary Caldwell takes the free kick.
  • 8:04 Aiden McGeady sends in a cross, Paul Gallacher makes a save.
  • 4:07 David Barron gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Aiden McGeady. Marc Crosas restarts play with the free kick.
  • 3:42 Zheng Zhi takes a shot. Paul Gallacher makes a save.
  • 0:00 The referee gets the game started.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association.