2022-03-02: Celtic 2-0 St Mirren, League

Match Pictures | Matches: 20212022


Trivia

  • KO: 7.45pm Wednesday; Match 29 of 38; on Celtic TV ppv feed
  • Full league program tonight
  • Celtic remain three points ahead in League title race now with +10 goal difference advantage over Sevco who won 1-0 away to St Johnstone.
  • Karamoko Dembele subbed on for first appearance since injury in pre season. Gets yellow card after only 60 seconds.
  • New St Mirren manager Steven Robinson just took over recently from ex Celt Jim Goodwin who moved to Aberdeen.
  • Russia/Ukraine: military invasion intensifies with huge numbers fleeing the country.
  • Russia/Ukraine: FIFA initially ordered Russia to complete their upcoming matches without their flag, anthem and as the Football Union of Russia in neutral territory, following the invasion of Ukraine. Mostly criticised and mocked for this token immaterial action.
  • Pre match photo with players together with a banner for united for peace in light of Russia/Ukraine.
  • Belatedly, FIFA and UEFA suspend Russian clubs and national teams from all competitions.
  • Former Celtic defender Marvin Compper has been placed in charge of Russian side FC Lokomotiv. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Markus Gisdol left the role in protest resulting in Compper being given interim command after being promoted from Assistant Manager.
  • Celtic v Sevco challenge game will be played in Australia in November when the world cup is on (so best of the rest!). Most not happy with this. Both sides confirm they are going to a 4 team tournament
  • Appears the Celtic board didn’t even consult Celtic’s own SLO on this shambolic move, let alone the rest of the fanbase. An email was circulated around various CSC’s, and unsurprisingly the overwhelming response has been that negative towards this fixture.
  • Both Celtic and Sevco fans make their feelings clear at their games tonight. Celtic get £6m to go to Australia. Sideshow teams get £2.5m.
  • Celtic Boys club abuse survivors given legal approval to launch action against Celtic in a civil case.
  • Covid vaccine passports no longer required at Celtic Park since Monday 28th February. Big development.

Summary

BBC’s Kenny Macintyre: “That was a hard watch at times – is that fair?”
Ange Postecoglou: “It depends what you’re looking for – maybe you’re disappointed with the way it went, mate.”

Green Brigade Banner: “Not half of anything. *Unless there’s money to be made. Shove your ‘Old Firm’ friendly up your a***.” [attack on the upcoming contorversial challenge match v Sevco in Australia set for November]

A two goal win in the midweek fixture. Not a brilliant performance but some better sparks in the second half. We move onto the next!

Started passing the ball forward in the second half instead of taking the safe option , brought its rewards. We aren’t playing our best , but it’s another win , and another game less to play. We go again

Dominant in the air, composed on the ball, calm at the back and popped up with the opening goal. Another top class performance from Cameron Carter-Vickers

Twitter:

@agentscotland: FT: Celtic 2-0 St MirrenBig three points, the majority of these players are inexperienced in this position, at this stage of the season mentality is just as important as ability, nine games to go and it’s going to be a nervous couple of months on the pitch & in the stands.

@bhoysanalytics Set pieces towards our cbs getting us goals now against st mirren and Dundee. Been more productive than short corners of late.Both coming from a Starfelt engagement followed by a Celtic player getting a shot away.Maeda will lead Celtic on shots and xG tonight. Good movement for shot but bad areas. Felt there was quite a lot of good runs from him in behind that were missed as we passed back a lot. Intrigued to see our pressing if we had him and Kyogo up top. Maybe something for next season


Teams

Celtic:

Formation 4-3-3

  • 15Hart
  • 88Juranovic
  • 20Carter-Vickers
  • 4Starfelt
  • 3Taylor
  • 33O’Riley Substituted forBittonat 65′minutes
  • 42McGregorBooked at 49mins
  • Substituted forIdeguchiat 87′minutes
  • 41Hatate Substituted forRogicat 64′minutes
  • 11Abada Substituted forForrestat 65′minutes
  • 38Maeda
  • 17Neves Filipe Substituted forDembeleat 84′minutesBooked at 86mins

Substitutes

  • 6Bitton
  • 10Ajeti
  • 16McCarthy
  • 18Rogic
  • 21Ideguchi
  • 29Bain
  • 49Forrest
  • 56Ralston
  • 77Dembele

Goals:

  • Carter-Vickers (55′ minutes)
  • McGregor (81′ minutes)

Assists:

St Mirren

Formation 5-4-1

  • 1Alnwick
  • 2Tait
  • 5McCarthy
  • 4Shaughnessy
  • 18DunneBooked at 45mins
  • 3TanserBooked at 55mins Substituted forFraserat 75′minutes
  • 11Kiltie Substituted forBrophyat 64′minutes
  • 6Power Substituted forErhahonat 79′minutes
  • 13Gogic
  • 7Jones Substituted forHendersonat 75′minutes
  • 10Main Substituted forGreiveat 64′minutes

Substitutes

  • 8Flynn
  • 9Brophy
  • 12Henderson
  • 16Erhahon
  • 21Greive
  • 22Fraser
  • 26Lyness

 

Goals:
Assists:

Ref:Euan Anderson
Att:


Articles

  • Match Report (see below)

Pictures


Match Links


Stats

Celtic
St Mirren
Possession
Home77%
Away23%
Shots
Home21
Away4
Shots on Target
Home6
Away1
Corners
Home9
Away0
Fouls
Home9
Away7

Articles

Celtic keep place at the top after tight win over St Mirren

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/celtic-keep-place-at-the-top-after-tight-win-over-st-mirren-41404962.html
Celtic 2 St Mirren 0

Gavin McCafferty

March 02 2022 09:56 PM

Second-half goals from Cameron Carter-Vickers and Callum McGregor earned Celtic another crucial three cinch Premiership points against St Mirren.

Carter-Vickers lashed home from close range to ease the tension at Parkhead 10 minutes after the break after Celtic had struggled to cut through a well-drilled visiting team.

The opener did not open the floodgates by any means but Celtic’s lead was never threatened before McGregor doubled it in the 81st minute when he drilled home from inside the box.

The 2-0 victory kept the leaders three points clear of Rangers with nine games remaining.

Manager Ange Postecoglou had warned the leaders would face a battle in every game of the run-in with every team in the league playing for something, and St Mirren provided just that.

Ahead of the game, only Celtic had collected more Premiership points than St Mirren in 2022, despite the Buddies playing one less game than most of the division.

Celtic were again without Giorgos Giakoumakis, who was absent for the goalless draw with Hibernian on Sunday through illness, and they missed his penalty-box presence at times.

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson lined up with five defenders with the added protection of Alan Power and Alex Gogic in central midfield. Greg Kiltie and Jordan Jones were tasked with supporting lone striker Curtis Main when they were not tied up with defensive duties themselves.

St Mirren had an early let-off when Charles Dunne sliced a clearance off his own bar following a cross from Jota.

The Portuguese winger soon provided two decent chances from the left. Liel Abada’s side-footed effort was parried by Jak Alnwick and Josip Juranovic was too high with a fierce first-time effort from just outside the box.
The Halfway Line Newsletter

Richard Tait’s low cross caused some danger at the other end but Joe Hart ultimately dealt with it.

Celtic’s best first-half chance came from a set-piece. Daizen Maeda peeled off the goalkeeper to meet Matt O’Riley’s inswinging free-kick but headed well wide.

There were clear signs of restlessness in the home support and clear-cut chances proved elusive in the final stages of the half.

Both Maeda and Jota headed off target with their backs to goal and Alnwick made a meal of parrying the latter’s curling effort.

The frustration was even more audible just after the break when Celtic lost possession from a short corner and McGregor was forced into taking a booking to stop Jones breaking.

A more direct set-piece soon led to the opener. Jota delivered from the right after being fouled by Scott Tanser and Carl Starfelt got the first contact before Carter-Vickers volleyed home from inside the six-yard box.

Postecoglou brought on the likes of Tom Rogic and James Forrest and Celtic continued to play the majority of the game in St Mirren’s half without boasting their maximum fluency.

The cushion came after a good break down the right from Juranovic, whose cross ultimately fell for McGregor to fire into the far corner from 14 yards.

Postecoglou brought on Karamoko Dembele for the attacker’s first appearance since fracturing an ankle in pre-season.


BBC

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60488485

By Nick McPheatBBC Scotland

Last updated on

From the section Scottish Premiership
Cameron Carter-Vickers goal v St Mirren
Cameron Carter-Vickers rifled through a ruck of bodies to give Celtic a second-half lead

Celtic maintained their three-point advantage in the Scottish Premiership as second-half goals from Cameron Carter-Vickers and Callum McGregor broke down a stubborn St Mirren side.

Barring a well-saved close-range effort from Liel Abada, the hosts created little in a frustrating first half.

But the leaders found the breakthrough after the interval when Carter-Vickers hammered past goalkeeper Jak Alnwick.

Captain McGregor sealed the win late on, netting low in the bottom corner.

The victory extends Celtic’s unbeaten league run to 23 games, while St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson – whose side drop to ninth – is still searching for his first points.

Reaction & as it happened
Celtic & Rangers to play historic game in Australia

Ange Postecoglou’s side dropped points at Hibernian on Sunday but were not punished as nearest challengers Rangers failed to narrow the gap.

To make sure their three-point advantage would remain intact, they would have to defeat a St Mirren side that made the trip to Parkhead as the last Scottish side to leave there with a victory.

The hosts started with the intensity and urgency their manager demands, but they failed to fashion any chances in the opening exchanges.

It was instead St Mirren who almost scored for them, with Charles Dunne slicing a clearance from a Jota cross off his own crossbar.

Jota again created the danger when another cross from the winger made its way to Abada, who stung the palms of Alnwick with a close-range effort.

St Mirren then showed they were capable of giving the leaders a scare as Curtis Main came close to getting his toe on the end of a dangerous ball from Richard Tait.

But the visitors were largely camped in their own half, with Celtic right-back Josip Juranovic lashing a strike from the edge of the area narrowly over and Jota forcing Alnwick high to his left to parry to safety.

As the half progressed, frustration mounted in the home support as every overhit pass and extra touch on the ball was met with a louder groan.

But there was a huge sigh of relief in the Celtic camp 10 minutes into the second period when Jota’s wide free-kick eventually fell to Carter-Vickers, who smashed a volley past a helpless Alnwick.

The Premiership leaders struggled to close out the game against a well-organised unit, but the points were sealed when Jota’s header was blocked before McGregor raced onto the ball and shot low into the bottom-right corner.
Man of the match – Matt O’Riley
Alex Gogic & Matt O’Riley
The midfielder was Celtic’s brightest spark in a frustrating first half and was always looking to engineer an opening in the final third
What did we learn?

Following Sunday’s goalless draw at Easter Road, Postecoglou would have been fearing a repeat after a flat first half in front of goal.

The Australian’s side have certainly lost their zip in recent weeks and lack a central presence at the top end of the pitch without strikers Giorgos Giakoumakis and Kyogo Furuhashi.

But with just nine games to go, Postecoglou is simply chalking the fixtures off as he hunts down the Premiership title.

Hearts and Celtic were two tough assignments for Robinson in his first games in charge, but the St Mirren boss will take encouragement in the way his side frustrated Celtic for long spells.

With a trip to Ross County to come on Saturday before a home game against bottom side Dundee, Robinson will fancy his chances of picking up his first points.
What did they say?

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou: “We dominated the ball and it’s hard when the opposition sits so deep. I thought we were solid. We stayed composed and did what we had to do to wear down the opposition.

“It’s how most teams set up against us and the important thing for us was not to get side-tracked by any anxiety. We’ve been unbelievable at home this year, the way we’ve controlled games.”

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: “It’s as comfortable I’ve felt out of possession at Celtic Park. But did we pass the ball well enough to get anything out the game? No, we didn’t.

“Ultimately it wasn’t good enough in the end. You have to be braver, we didn’t stay on the ball long enough.”
What’s next?

St Mirren go to Ross County on Saturday (15:00 GMT) before Celtic travel to Livingston the following day (12:00).

  • Match ends, Celtic 2, St. Mirren 0.

  • Full Time

    Second Half ends, Celtic 2, St. Mirren 0.

  • Post update

    Attempt blocked. Alexandros Gogic (St. Mirren) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  • Post update

    Attempt missed. Daizen Maeda (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Tomas Rogic with a cross.

  • Substitution

    Substitution, Celtic. Yosuke Ideguchi replaces Callum McGregor.

  • Post update

    Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Joe Shaughnessy.

  • Booking

    Karamoko Dembele (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  • Post update

    Foul by Karamoko Dembele (Celtic).

  • Post update

    Alex Greive (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  • Post update

    Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jay Henderson.

  • Post update

    Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Alexandros Gogic.

  • Substitution

    Substitution, Celtic. Karamoko Dembele replaces Jota.

  • Post update

    Attempt missed. Alexandros Gogic (St. Mirren) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jay Henderson with a cross.

  • Post update

    Foul by Nir Bitton (Celtic).

  • Post update

    Jay Henderson (St. Mirren) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  • Goal!

    Goal! Celtic 2, St. Mirren 0. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.

  • Post update

    Attempt missed. Jota (Celtic) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Josip Juranovic with a cross.

  • Substitution

    Substitution, St. Mirren. Ethan Erhahon replaces Alan Power.

  • Substitution

    Substitution, St. Mirren. Marcus Fraser replaces Scott Tanser because of an injury.

  • Substitution

    Substitution, St. Mirren. Jay Henderson replaces Jordan Jones.

  • Post update

    Foul by Jota (Celtic).

  • Post update

    Alex Greive (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  • Post update

    Offside, Celtic. Callum McGregor tries a through ball, but Greg Taylor is caught offside.

  • Post update

    Attempt blocked. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Tomas Rogic.

  • Substitution

    Substitution, Celtic. Nir Bitton replaces Matt O’Riley.

  • Substitution

    Substitution, Celtic. James Forrest replaces Liel Abada.

  • Substitution

    Substitution, Celtic. Tomas Rogic replaces Reo Hatate.

  • Substitution

    Substitution, St. Mirren. Eamonn Brophy replaces Greg Kiltie.

  • Substitution

    Substitution, St. Mirren. Alex Greive replaces Curtis Main.

  • Post update

    Attempt blocked. Matt O’Riley (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Josip Juranovic.

  • Post update

    Offside, St. Mirren. Charles Dunne tries a through ball, but Alexandros Gogic is caught offside.

  • Post update

    Foul by Matt O’Riley (Celtic).

  • Post update

    Jordan Jones (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  • Post update

    Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jordan Jones.

  • Post update

    Attempt saved. Daizen Maeda (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Callum McGregor.

  • Goal!

    Goal! Celtic 1, St. Mirren 0. Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner following a set piece situation.

  • Post update

    Attempt blocked. Carl Starfelt (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jota with a cross.

  • Booking

    Scott Tanser (St. Mirren) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  • Post update

    Liel Abada (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  • Post update

    Foul by Scott Tanser (St. Mirren).

  • Post update

    Jota (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  • Post update

    Foul by Richard Tait (St. Mirren).

  • Post update

    Attempt saved. Matt O’Riley (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Cameron Carter-Vickers.

  • Booking

    Callum McGregor (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  • Post update

    Foul by Callum McGregor (Celtic).

  • Post update

    Jordan Jones (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  • Post update

    Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Scott Tanser.

  • Post update

    Callum McGregor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  • Post update

    Foul by Alexandros Gogic (St. Mirren).

  • Post update

    Foul by Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic).

  • Post update

    Curtis Main (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  • Second Half

    Second Half begins Celtic 0, St. Mirren 0.

  • Half Time

    First Half ends, Celtic 0, St. Mirren 0.

  • Post update

    Attempt missed. Jota (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Matt O’Riley with a cross following a set piece situation.

  • Post update

    Attempt blocked. Callum McGregor (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Reo Hatate.

  • Booking

    Charles Dunne (St. Mirren) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  • Post update

    Liel Abada (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  • Post update

    Foul by Charles Dunne (St. Mirren).

  • Post update

    Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Curtis Main.

  • Post update

    Attempt saved. Jota (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

  • Post update

    Attempt missed. Daizen Maeda (Celtic) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jota with a cross.

  • Post update

    Attempt missed. Daizen Maeda (Celtic) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Matt O’Riley with a cross following a set piece situation.

  • Post update

    Josip Juranovic (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  • Post update

    Foul by Charles Dunne (St. Mirren).

  • Post update

    Attempt blocked. Josip Juranovic (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Matt O’Riley.

  • Post update

    Callum McGregor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  • Post update

    Foul by Curtis Main (St. Mirren).

  • Post update

    Attempt missed. Reo Hatate (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.

  • Post update

    Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Alan Power.

  • Post update

    Foul by Jota (Celtic).

  • Post update

    Alan Power (St. Mirren) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  • Post update

    Attempt missed. Josip Juranovic (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Greg Taylor with a cross.

  • Post update

    Attempt saved. Joe Shaughnessy (St. Mirren) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the bottom right corner.

  • Post update

    Foul by Carl Starfelt (Celtic).

  • Post update

    Richard Tait (St. Mirren) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  • Post update

    Attempt saved. Liel Abada (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jota with a cross.

  • Post update

    Attempt missed. Daizen Maeda (Celtic) header from the left side of the six yard box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Reo Hatate with a cross.

  • Post update

    Attempt missed. Daizen Maeda (Celtic) header from the right side of the box misses to the right.

  • Post update

    Attempt missed. Reo Hatate (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a corner.

  • Post update

    Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Charles Dunne.

  • Post update

    Attempt missed. Greg Kiltie (St. Mirren) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Richard Tait with a headed pass.

  • Post update

    Foul by Carl Starfelt (Celtic).

  • Post update

    Charles Dunne (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  • Post update

    Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Joe Shaughnessy.

  • Post update

    Daizen Maeda (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  • Post update

    Foul by Alexandros Gogic (St. Mirren).

  • Kick Off

    First Half begins.

  • Post update

    Lineups are announced and players are warming up.


Celtic fans tell club to ‘shove’ Rangers Australia friendly in banner protest at St Mirren match

Celtic fans have held up a banner at tonight’s St Mirren match criticising the club’s decision to play Rangers in a challenge match in Australia.

By Matthew Elder
Wednesday, 2nd March 2022, 8:18 pm
Updated
11 hours ago
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/celtic-fans-display-banner-as-club-told-to-shove-rangers-australia-friendly-3594171

HAVE YOUR SAY
The Hoops have arranged to play in the inaugural Sydney Super Cup in November, a four-team tournament staged Down Under featuring their Glasgow rivals as well as A-League sides Western Sydney Wanderers and Syndey FC.

Taking place during the domestic break for the World Cup in Qatar, it will be the first time an Old Firm match has been staged overseas with organisers hoping for a near sell-out crowd at the 83,500 Accord Arena.

Rangers fans group Club 1872 accused the Ibrox club of “alienating” fans by agreeing to take part in the event, now Celtic fans have made their feelings known with a banner protest aimed at the club’s decision-makers.

The banner, which was held up in the safe-standing section at Celtic Park during the match against St Mirren, reads: “Not half of anything. *Unless there’s money to be made. Shove your ‘Old Firm’ friendly up your a***.”

Rangers commercial and marketing director James Bisgrove has insisted the controversial trip will create “sizeable commercial benefits” for the club and that the TV revenue received from the eight-day trip will be greater than the amount received for an entire SPFL season.