2013-03-31: St Mirren 1-1 Celtic, SPL

Match Pictures | Matches: 2012 – 2013 | 2012-13 Pictures

Trivia

• Celtic stay top but anger dropped points. Referee botched up decisions but wasn't the reason we messed up.
• Celtic now have won only half of our away games. Take from that what you will.
• Return after international games, with Scotland as shambolic as ever, and are humiliatingly the first side KO'ed from qualifying from the World Cup (for Europe). Gordon Strachan is the new manager, two competitive games and two defeats. It's going to a tough long haul job.
• Fraser Forster on bench for England in their international games, pathetic he can't be given no.1 jersey even for the games v minnows. He's more than proven his worth.
• Celtic Talk has been all about the Green Brigade, their treatment at the hands of the police and the shambles of the law targeting football fans. March planned against the bill.
• Celtic film to be made starring recent Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis to star as Br Walfrid acc to newspaper reports. All stories at moment, but club admits there have been enquiries on a film on the club's history.
• Concerns rise on Dunfermline to be liquidated, confirmed entering administration.
• Mastermind contestant John Savage who had Celtic history as his chosen subject in quarterfinals, won his semi final by skin of his teeth. So into the final.

Celtic applauded Saints on to the pitch after their League Cup final triumph over hearts the previous week.

Review

(Celtic Ireland of KDS)
The players simply don't give a flying eff and will chase season ticket holders away in their droves.

Once folk don't renew it will be very difficult to get them back.

I think the underperforming from the players must be a serious issue now at Boardroom level for the above reasons.

So how do they fix it? Lenny is doing everything he can and there's not many i'd trust better to motivate the players but it simply isn't working.
I'm a 100% Lenny man and i think he needs help in the dressing room like every boss always has, a good backroom man like a Tommy Burns, a Jimmy Steele to work with the players.

The only other thing i can see to get people back at games is to sign a couple of flair players, mibbes one big name but the Board won't want to spend the money.

Unfortunately i can't see any end to the underperforming any week soon.

Hope i'm wrong.

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Stats

St Mirren Celtic
Possession
40%60%
90mins

Shots
10 5

On target
3 2

Corners
9 4

Fouls
4 10

Articles

St Mirren 1 Celtic 2: match report

Celtic double in sights as Anthony Stokes strikes down St Mirren

Roddy Forsyth Telegraph

By Roddy Forsyth

11:00PM GMT 03 Mar 2013

CommentsComments

The value of Anthony Stokes’ scoring header at Paisley on Saturday cannot yet be calculated but as matters stand it represented the difference between a season which could not have held much more interest for Celtic and a campaign that can still go all the way to May 19 and the possibility of a league and Cup double for Neil Lennon’s side.

The manager and his squad fly out to Turin on Tuesday morning for the return leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Juventus and, while they hope and intend to make a point against the Serie A leaders, it would be nothing short of astounding if Celtic were to overturn the 3-0 deficit by which they trail.

A fond farewell to the Champions League will soon be followed by the formality of a second successive SPL title – albeit that defeat by Motherwell at Fir Park last week was a warning that Celtic cannot assume they will be allowed an unhindered progress to the defence of their championship. Had St Mirren been able to repeat the feat of knocking Celtic out of the Scottish Communities League Cup when the pair met again in the William Hill Scottish Cup quarter finals at the weekend, there would have been precious little to attract the Hoops faithful to *** end of a schedule which still has more than two months to run.

The outcome was settled by the three goals scored in the first quarter of the contest – all of them unchecked headers, with Celtic providing supply in each case. James Forrest provided crosses, first for Joe Ledley and then for Stokes, while Emilio Izaguirre’s attempt to nod the ball back to his own goalkeeper between times succeeded only in looping it towards his own net and the Honduran defender was spared the indignity of an own goal by Esmael Goncalves’ touch on the line.

There would have been more scoring but for fine saves at both ends after the break, with Craig Samson’s fingertip diversion of a Gary Hooper drive on to the crossbar, which was matched when Fraser Forster flung out a glove to halt what looked like a certainty for St Mirren’s second equaliser from Graham Carey’s explosive free kick.

Carey was the scorer of a spectacular goal from distance against Hearts only three days previously but did not warrant a starting place and there were grumbles from some Saints fans that their team looked most potent only after the Irishman came on for Paul McGowan with 18 minutes left to play.

Of his setpiece delivery which was thwarted by Forster, Carey said: “I thought it was in as soon as I hit it but the keeper has a got a good hand on it and that is why he is at a top football club.

“He’s at Celtic to make saves like that and get them the results they need. I was almost celebrating when he plucked it out of the air. It was a great save and, all in all they, probably just deserved it. However, we really took the game to them in the second half and maybe we were a little unlucky not to get a replay.

“I was fit to start. It was a bit frustrating but you have to go with the manager. That’s just the way it is. Hopefully I will start on Wednesday against Dundee.”

Carey’s fellow Dubliner, Stokes, has also been frustrated by a lack of starts and the first half of his season was disrupted by injury. “When you’re playing at a club like this you always want to perform. The way things are at the minute I need to bounce back from the injury,” said the striker.

“So far since I’ve come back I think I’ve done that. I’m going to work as hard as I can to finish this season off as well as possible. I treat every game the same, I don’t try harder in certain games or because my contract is running out in a couple of months. I just play my normal game and that’s what I’ve been doing since I’ve come back.

“I’d been lucky enough throughout my career not to be injured. That’s the first major one I’ve had. It came at a bad time with the big games. It’s just given me more desire to get back in the team and work as hard as I can.”

"It remains to be seen whether or not Stokes will have a role to play in Italy, but he confessed that it had been difficult to watch from the sidelines as his colleagues made such spectacular progress in Europe. “I’ve just got to take it on the chin – during my rehab it just spurred me on if anything,” said Stokes.

“I wanted to come back stronger I watched the games in the house but the boys went on a great run and I was delighted for the team and for the club. I thought we performed really well in the home leg against Juventus. I think we were slightly unlucky to a certain extent.

It’s going to be a completely different atmosphere and a very tough game out there but we’ve got nothing to lose so we’ll go out there and give it our best shot.”

As for the prospect that no new deal might be forthcoming, Stokes was phlegmatic.

“Listen, I’d move on. That’s football. It happens to managers every week and it’s the same with players,” he said.

“I wouldn’t let it affect me. I’d be disappointed obviously because I think over the last two or three years I’ve contributed to the team. I just want to keep working as hard as I can and keep improving as a player.

“I just love the club. I enjoy being here. Playing every week is all I want. Since I’ve come here I’ve played the majority of games week in week out.

“That’s all I’ve been looking for. It’s been a very hard season – I’ve had a major injury and been out for six or seven months but I think I’ve bounced back in the right way and got myself back in the team and scored goals. That’s all I can really do.”

BBC

By Kenny Crawford BBC Sport Scotland
Comments (127)

Paul McGowan's late penalty gave St Mirren a point against Celtic, who had Victor Wanyama sent off in a match overshadowed by refereeing errors.

Kris Commons met Efe Ambrose's cross to net early for the visitors in Paisley.

Saints had Marc McAusland's header cleared off the line by Beram Kayal before referee Bobby Madden issued red to Wanyama for a foul on McGowan.

And McGowan levelled from the spot late on after Emilio Izaguirre was judged to have tripped Esmael Goncalves.
Play media

At least three of referee Madden's key decisions in this match were strongly disputed, with Celtic boss Neil Lennon stating afterwards it was "by far the most appalling refereeing performance" he'd seen this season "by a long, long way".

Madden missed Georgios Samaras's handball in the box; dismissed Wanyama for what seemed a soft flick at McGowan; and awarded a spot-kick to St Mirren when no touch on Goncalves was evident.

Coming away with just a point here means Celtic can still clinch the Scottish Premier League title next weekend if they beat Hibs and Motherwell lose against St Mirren.

Meanwhile, the Buddies, who move into 10th, will be glad to have got their first point and goal against Celtic in nine league meetings.

Neil Lennon's men brought mutual good feeling to St Mirren Park pre-kick-off, forming a guard of honour for their opponents to walk through in recognition of the Paisley side's League Cup triumph.

But the Hoops quickly shelved the sentimental stuff when an early Gary Hooper shot was followed by their opening goal.
Red card

Referee Bobby Madden dismissed Celtic's Victor Wanyama in the 55th minute

Kayal's cross was only headed half-clear and Ambrose chipped the ball back for Commons to nod his 14th goal of the season into the bottom corner of Craig Samson's net.

Saints responded well, with Paul Dummett's side-foot effort touched wide by the on-rushing Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster before cup final goal-scorer Conor Newton drove a 20-yarder narrowly over.

Commons made a mess of another chance from Joe Ledley's delivery, which Celtic were nearly made to pay for when McAusland's header was cleared off the line by Kayal at the other end.

Then silky wing-play by Gary Teale ended with a tasty cross for Thompson to head wide for the Buddies.

St Mirren did have the ball in the net on the half-hour when Teale's cross from the left sailed directly in, but referee Madden decided Dummett had fouled Forster in the process.

Visiting fans sensed a second goal when Commons released Hooper however his screwed right-foot shot was not on their script.
Play media

Celtic lost Commons to an ankle injury before one final first half flashpoint when St Mirren claimed the arm of Samaras had connected with Teale's corner, but no penalty was awarded.

More controversy followed after the break, referee Madden showing Celtic's Wanyama a straight red card, perhaps harshly, for a late foul on McGowan.

Naturally, Saints pushed and both Teale and David van Zanten saw left-foot strikes flash over the bar.

And with 10 minutes remaining, the home side got the equaliser from the penalty spot.

Referee Madden judged that Goncalves had been tripped on the edge of the box by Celtic's Izaguirre, but doubt existed about whether there was any touch at all.

Nevertheless, McGowan stepped up to side-foot down the middle to bring his side level.

St Mirren were almost gifted the win when Forster fumbled an injury-time cross which nearly fell to substitute Sander Puri.
Live Text Commentary
90:00 +3:04 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.
90:00 +0:46 Substitution

Substitution Tony Watt replaces Georgios Samaras.
89:17

Kelvin Wilson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Steven Thompson. Direct free kick taken by Craig Samson.
88:00 Substitution

Substitution Esmael Goncalves leaves the field to be replaced by Sander Puri.
86:56

Gary Teale takes a shot.
85:53

The referee gives a free kick against Paul McGowan for handball. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Gary Teale from right wing, Georgios Samaras manages to make a clearance.
83:17

Steven Thompson takes a shot. Fraser Forster makes a save.
80:38

The assist for the goal came from Esmael Goncalves.
80:38 Goal scored

Goal – Paul McGowan – St Mirren 1 – 1 Celtic Power penalty scored by Paul McGowan. St Mirren 1-1 Celtic.
79:46

Unfair challenge on Esmael Goncalves by Emilio Izaguirre results in a Penalty.
77:41

Paul McGowan challenges Georgios Samaras unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
76:23

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Gary Teale from the right by-line, Steven Thompson produces a header from inside the area that goes over the crossbar.
71:26 Substitution

Substitution Dylan McGeouch joins the action as a substitute, replacing Gary Hooper.
69:57

David van Zanten produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.
68:48

Corner taken by Graham Carey from the right by-line, clearance made by Anthony Stokes.
66:34

Graham Carey takes the direct free kick.
66:34 Booking

Booking Georgios Samaras is cautioned.
66:17

Free kick awarded for a foul by Georgios Samaras on Gary Teale.
65:30 Substitution

Substitution Graham Carey on for John McGinn.
65:13

Gary Teale produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the goal.
62:45

The assistant referee flags for offside against Georgios Samaras. Free kick taken by Craig Samson.
54:49

Free kick taken by Jim Goodwin.
54:49 Dismissal

Dismissal Victor Wanyama is shown a red card for serious foul play.
54:49

Direct free kick taken by Jim Goodwin.
54:49 Dismissal

Dismissal Victor Wanyama shown a red card for violent conduct.
54:37

Victor Wanyama challenges Paul McGowan unfairly and gives away a free kick.
53:28

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Paul Dummett by Emilio Izaguirre. Craig Samson restarts play with the free kick.
51:18

Free kick awarded for a foul by Victor Wanyama on John McGinn. Jim Goodwin takes the direct free kick.
45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.
45:01 Booking

Booking Steven Thompson booked for dissent.
45:01 Substitution

Substitution Anthony Stokes on for Kris Commons.
45:00 +11:59 Half time

Half Time The players leave the pitch at half time.
45:00 +3:30

Corner from right by-line taken by Gary Teale.
45:00 +2:39

Corner from right by-line taken by Gary Teale.
36:36

Gary Hooper takes a shot.
32:08

Joe Ledley challenges David van Zanten unfairly and gives away a free kick. David van Zanten restarts play with the free kick.
28:25

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Charlie Mulgrew from the right by-line, Steven Thompson makes a clearance.
25:54

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Gary Teale from the left by-line, Paul Dummett concedes a free kick for a foul on Fraser Forster. Fraser Forster restarts play with the free kick.
24:12

Shot by John McGinn from outside the box goes over the net.
23:28

Corner taken by Gary Teale from the left by-line, clearance by Victor Wanyama.
22:56

Unfair challenge on Gary Teale by Emilio Izaguirre results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by David van Zanten.
18:45

Kelvin Wilson challenges Steven Thompson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Gary Teale takes the free kick.
18:12

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Charlie Mulgrew.
17:20

Emilio Izaguirre fouled by Conor Newton, the ref awards a free kick. Emilio Izaguirre takes the direct free kick.
16:39

Unfair challenge on John McGinn by Efe Ambrose results in a free kick. Jim Goodwin takes the direct free kick.
15:29

Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Steven Thompson misses to the right of the target.
14:46

Kris Commons has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target.
13:00

Floated corner taken right-footed by Gary Teale, clearance made by Victor Wanyama.
12:16

Corner taken right-footed by Gary Teale, Marc McAusland takes a shot. Efe Ambrose gets a block in.
5:34

Assist by Efe Ambrose.
9:55

Conor Newton produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that clears the bar.
8:23

Short corner taken by Gary Teale from the right by-line, clearance made by Gary Hooper.
7:59

Paul Dummett takes a shot. Save by Fraser Forster.
5:34

The assist for the goal came from Victor Wanyama.
5:34 Goal scored

Goal – Kris Commons – St Mirren 0 – 1 Celtic Kris Commons scores a headed goal from inside the penalty box. St Mirren 0-1 Celtic.
5:16

Kris Commons takes the outswinging corner, clearance made by Jim Goodwin.
4:15

Unfair challenge on Kris Commons by Jim Goodwin results in a free kick. Shot on goal comes in from Charlie Mulgrew from the free kick.
2:47

Gary Hooper has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.
1:20

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Charlie Mulgrew from the left by-line to the near post.
0:00

The referee gets the match started.

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