2024-01-02: St Mirren 0-3 Celtic, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 2023 – 2024

Trivia

KO: 17:00, Tuesday; Sky sports, Jan 2nd traditional Scottish Bank holiday for New Years
Celtic end pre-winter break top with 22 games played, 54pts & +38GD, whilst Sevco in second place have two games in hand but on 46pts & +30GD, so at worst Celtic have a two pt cushion above Sevco.
First match of the new calendar year. Full SP match program today. Winter break starts after this match.
Hart gets a full boot and studs in the side of his head which leads to a red card after review for the St Mirren player. Accidental but could have been very serious.
Brendan Rodgers says Reo Hatate was so emotional because he had worked so hard to return from injury – not because the Japan midfielder is about to be sold by the club as speculated by some!
Asian Cup: Unbelievably, Kyogo NOT included by Japan for upcoming Asia Cup but Hatate & Maeda (both just back from injury) are picked! Benefits Celtic Kyogo staying, but some feel it is personal from the Japan coach to NOT pick Kyogo.
Sevco concede first league penalty for 23 MONTHS, that’s first time in 75 league games! And they are complaining that Scottish football is biased against them? Bizarre. First handed to a Premiership opponent at the Govan ground in almost four-and-a-half years.
Celtic coach Harry Kewell has left to join Yokohama F. Marinos as Head Coach. Adam Sadler appointed new First Team Coach.
Transfer Window open:
Players possibly on way out in Jan: Benjamin Siegrist, defenders Alexandro Bernabei, Yuki Kobayashi and Gustaf Lagerbielke, midfielders Kwon, Holm, James McCarthy, and forward players Marco Tilio and Johnny Kenny. Ideguchi transfer out to be completed.
Nat Phillips returned to Liverpool as loan spell ends.
Reports: Rapid Vienna winger Nicolas Kuhn is a January transfer target.
Reports: Italian club Atalanta plotting a January move for Celtic youngster Rocco Vata, in a move that would earn Celtic £350,000 in compensation.
Rodgers dismissed suggestions he “should be in constant fear of Rangers [sic!]” because he has faced five different managers in and has been told “every time Rangers [sic!] were coming”.
Ex Celt Scott Robertson leaves Fleetwood Town on a free transfer and signed for Notts County.
Japan earthquake: Thousands in shelters overnight after tsunami warnings.

Summary

“I think this will be a big test for Celtic. It’s ok beating Rangers but this game before the break, Celtic need to go on and win this…”
Chris Sutton pre match

“He has come in these last few games and created goals and scored goals… he’s a great learner”. Brendan Rodgers is happy with Paulo Bernardo’s recent development after two assists in Celtic’s 3-0 win away to St Mirren

“I’m very proud of the team over the last few weeks,”
Brendan Rodgers

Bernardo with two assists to win Man of the Match!

jbj712 of KDS:
Great start came from a really positive attitude so much credit to the manager and players.
If Kyogo scores with the chance he had at 2-0 early on it could have been another 7,8,9 shot.
I know the linesman flagged but I think VAR might have overruled him.
Don’t know why some were thinking it wasn’t a straight red card as he was well above waist height and well late as Hart has cleared the ball before contact was made so I don’t know how that action can be construed as going for the ball because the ball was gone!
Imperative that we won to consolidate Saturday but just as important that we get in at least 4 guys who would either be first picks or good enough quality to come off the bench and contribute especially with the 4 going away on international duty.

Chris Sutton @chris_sutton73 · 4h Celtic very impressive. So important to back up the Rangers victory at a toughish venue. O’Riley and McGregor once again running the show. Hatate and Abada if they can stay fit will feel like new signings. An interesting January ahead though for Celtic…

Tom English @TEnglishSport Emergence of Bernardo and Nawrocki. Return of Hatate and Abada. Everything looks greener in Celtic’s garden all of a sudden

Liam Kelly @cfcliamk96 · 5h “He goes for the ball” However, he didn’t get it. He goes studs up, misses the ball and kicks the goalkeeper in the face with said studs. Accident or not that is dangerous play

Teams

Celtic

Formation 4-3-3

1Hart
2Johnston
17Nawrocki Substituted for Lagerbielke at 63′minutes
5Scales
3Taylor
33O’Riley
42McGregor
28Gonçalves Bernardo Substituted for Hatate at 71′minutes
38Maeda Substituted for Abada at 63′minutes
8Furuhashi Substituted for Oh at 71′minutes
7Palma Substituted for Yang at 55′minutes

Substitutes

4Lagerbielke
11Abada
13Yang
14Turnbull
19Oh
29Bain
41Hatate
56Ralston
90Johnston

Goals:

Maeda (1′ minutes),
O’Riley (6′ minutes),
Taylor (60′ minutes)

Assists:

O’Riley (1′ minutes),
Gonçalves Bernardo (6′ minutes, 60′ minutes)

St Mirren

Formation 3-5-2

1Hemming
2Bolton
13Gogic
5Taylor
22Fraser
8Flynn Substituted forBwomonoat 65′minutes
15Boyd-Munce Substituted forGreiveat 77′minutes
11Kiltie
3Tanser
20OlusanyaBooked at 45mins
9Mandron Substituted forAyungaat 65′minutes

Substitutes

7Ayunga
10McMenamin
16Small
18Dunne
19Nahmani
21Greive
24Jamieson
27Urminsky
42Bwomono

Referee:David Munro
Attendance:6,943

Articles

Match Report (see below)

Pictures

Match Pictures

Match Links

Stats

Home TeamSt MirrenAway TeamCeltic

Possession: Home27%; Away73%

Shots: Home3; Away24

Shots on Target: Home0; Away11

Corners: Home1; Away12

Fouls: Home9; Away8

Articles

Maeda first foot specialist, O’Riley landmark as supporting star emerges, why Buckie can’t be dismissed

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/celtic-debrief-maeda-first-foot-specialist-oriley-landmark-as-supporting-star-emerges-why-buckie-cant-be-dismissed-4464067
Quickfire start floors hosts as Celtic reassert themselves at top with 3-0 win over St Mirren
Alan Pattullo
By Alan Pattullo
Published 2nd Jan 2024, 21:46 GMT

Comment

The St Mirren Tannoy man had barely finished uttering a rousing rallying call to St Mirren fans at the beginning of a new year – “It’s 5pm, it’s the first game of 2024…this is your town, this is your team..!” – when Celtic’s first-footer specialist Daizen Maeda struck to put the visitors one up.

Six minutes later it was two thanks to Matt O’Riley’s tenth Celtic goal on his 100th appearance. It was an inauspicious start to 2024 for the hosts, who unsurprisingly struggled to recover from such a start. Their task became a hopeless one when striker Olutoysi Olusanya was red carded for a high challenge on Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart after a VAR review on the stroke of half-time.

It all seemed especially dismaying after the hosts’ 3-0 win over Aberdeen days earlier. As for Celtic, the fans sang “We shall not be moved!” after their side finished the first half of the season in a familiar position at the top of the league. They will take some shifting given they have also been boosted by the return of Reo Hatate – temporarily at least – and Liel Abada. Paulo Bernardo, meanwhile, is quickly becoming instrumental. He provided two assists here after his Old Firm goal on Saturday.

And then there’s Maeda, although he like Hatate is now signing off to appear at the Asian Cup with Japan. There should have been little surprise at the identity of the man who got Celtic up and running at the start of the year, seeing as he seems to do it every year. Well, the last three anyway. Maeda had only joined the club a few weeks before scoring just four minutes into his debut against Hibs on 17 January 2022.

That was Celtic’s first goal of that year. He then scored after five minutes of last year’s 2-2 draw with Rangers and he was again fast off the mark here after scampering onto O’Riley’s intelligent pass inside St Mirren left back Scott Tanser. Maeda took a touch and swept the ball beyond Zach Hemming with his left foot. There were just 54 seconds on the clock.

Whoever Celtic are playing first next year should surely be wise to this pattern. Don’t be surprised to see Maeda marked by two men. Perhaps St Mirren’s attention did switch to Maeda because Celtic were allowed to dance through the centre of their defence just five minutes later. Bernardo controlled a pass from Greg Taylor before swivelling past Alex Gogic and laying off a timely ball for O’Riley, who stepped around Tanser before slipping the ball through Hemming’s legs. It wasn’t a bad way to mark 100 games for Celtic. How many more there will be depends on the accuracy of speculation linking him with a move away, with clubs – including one in Serie A – reportedly interested.

One had sympathy with Olusanya because he seemed genuinely apologetic after catching Hart in the face. He was entitled to go for the ball. However, the actual challenge was reckless and could easily have inflicted serious damage.

Celtic were able to use their last 45 minutes before the winter break as a glorified training session. Hatate made a welcome return off the bench. Abada also got more minutes in. Taylor volleyed past Hemming on the hour mark to make it 3-0 after a delightful clip through from Bernardo.

Hemming kept the scoreline semi-respectable with a series of fine saves as both teams began to consider challenges to come. In Celtic’s case, first up is Buckie Thistle in the Scottish Cup – and they can’t be easily dismissed having won their last game 8-1 at Forrest Mechanics.

BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67821042

By Amy CanavanBBC Scotland

Last updated on

1 hour ago1 hour ago.From the section Scottish Premiership
Daizen Maeda scored after just 54 seconds
Daizen Maeda scored after just 54 seconds

Celtic scored twice in the opening six minutes on the way to beating St Mirren and maintaining their eight-point lead at the summit of the Scottish Premiership.

Daizen Maeda scored his side’s first goal of the year for the third successive January when he dashed away from Scott Tanser to fire beyond Zach Hemming after just 54 seconds.

After neatly setting up the first, Matt O’Riley smartly tucked away the second. His wonderful first touch created the angle for Hemming to be nutmegged to round off a magnificent move.

The half could not have started any worse for Stephen Robinson’s side and it ended in similar disappointment as Toyosi Olusanya was shown a red card after a VAR review after his boot caught Joe Hart’s face.

That decision made a tough test even tougher for the Paisley side and Greg Taylor’s second-half thunderous volley inflicted further misery.

Following Rangers’ early win against Kilmarnock, Celtic reclaimed their advantage, albeit having played two games more, while St Mirren remain in fifth, two points behind Derek McInnes’ side.

Keep up to date with St Mirren
The latest Celtic news

Backing up Saturday’s derby day victory was imperative for the league leaders, but against a St Mirren side who took an early lead the last time the sides met at Celtic Park, there were no guarantees the three points would come easy.

However, a speedy start settled any nerves among the away support. The quickest goal of the season for the champions was scored by Maeda, but it was all about the perfectly-weighted pass from O’Riley, making his 100th Celtic appearance.

The Denmark international had Paulo Bernardo to thank for the milestone being marked by a goal. The crafty Portuguese midfielder turned tremendously and teed up his team-mate in a classy move.

St Mirren failed to threaten, but pre-match Robinson had highlighted Olusanya’s pace as an asset in a game where opportunities would be few and far between.

On the rare occasion the ball made its way to Celtic goalmouth, the striker mistimed his attempt and instead caught Hart in the face. His initial yellow card was upgraded after David Munro was asked to take another look at the incident.

With a player advantage, Celtic’s speed and tempo was even more pronounced. Bernardo again provided a sensational assist, this time a dinked effort into the path for the left-back to slam home.

This came just minutes after the Portuguese had his own top-corner bound effort well saved by Hemming.

If it wasn’t for the St Mirren goalkeeper, the scoreline could have been much heavier. Substitutes Oh Hyeon-gyu, Yang Hyun-jun and Liel Abada were all denied, while Kyogo also headed wide when a goal appeared likely.
Player of the match – Paulo Bernardo (Celtic)
Paulo Bernardo
A toss-up between Bernardo and O’Riley, but the Portuguese just edges it due to his quality assists. Quite the way to back up his derby-day heroics.
Celtic ruthlessly respond in comfortable and commanding win – analysis

What a difference a week can make.

Last Tuesday, Celtic swept aside Dundee in a “much more like it” showing after a profligate performance against Livingston and the back-to-back defeats by Kilmarnock and Hearts.

That was followed up by a statement win against their fiercest rivals at the weekend and rounded off by this comfortable victory.

With 24 shots – 11 of which were on target – Celtic were back to their free-flowing best. The shackles were off.

With 103 final third entries and 53 touches in the opposition box, the confidence that had perhaps appeared dented of late was back. It could have been so much more if it were not for Hemming.

O’Riley and Callum McGregor have been shining lights throughout but the emergence of Bernardo as an impressive cog in midfield will bring satisfaction to Rodgers.

For St Mirren, it’s one to shove to the back of the mind as quickly as Maeda opened the scoring in Paisley.

There were mismatches all over the park long before it was a 10-man task. Overrun in midfield, bamboozled out wide and front men starved of service. A tough pill to swallow after an uplifting win at Pittodrie.
What they said

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: “I haven’t seen [the red card] back, but that wasn’t the reason why we lost the game so it’s irrelevant.

“We started the game really poorly against a very good Celtic side, which you can’t do. The red card compounds the pain we’re suffering. It was a long afternoon.”
‘Maeda will be miss but other players coming back’

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: “We made a really good start, this can be a really tricky place to come and play, but we started on the front foot, playing forward and scored two goals in the opening 10 minutes.

“I’m really pleased, the sending off meant it was more difficult for them but we managed that side of it in the second half much better than we did at the weekend.”

Match ends, St. Mirren 0, Celtic 3.
90’+4′

Full Time

Second Half ends, St. Mirren 0, Celtic 3.

90’+3′

Post update

Attempt blocked. Matt O’Riley (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Liel Abada.
90′

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Attempt blocked. Oh Hyeon-Gyu (Celtic) right footed shot from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Greg Taylor.
89′

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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by James Bolton.
89′

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Attempt blocked. Alistair Johnston (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Greg Taylor.
87′

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Foul by Yang Hyun-Jun (Celtic).
87′

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Elvis Bwomono (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
81′

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Attempt saved. Liel Abada (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
81′

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Foul by Yang Hyun-Jun (Celtic).
81′

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Elvis Bwomono (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
78′

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Liam Scales (Celtic) hits the right post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Matt O’Riley with a cross following a corner.
77′

Substitution

Substitution, St. Mirren. Alex Greive replaces Caolan Boyd-Munce.
77′

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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Zach Hemming.
77′

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Attempt saved. Yang Hyun-Jun (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Oh Hyeon-Gyu.
77′

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Attempt saved. Oh Hyeon-Gyu (Celtic) header from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Alistair Johnston with a cross.
76′

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Attempt blocked. Reo Hatate (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Matt O’Riley.
76′

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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Marcus Fraser.
76′

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Attempt blocked. Reo Hatate (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum McGregor.
74′

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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Elvis Bwomono.

73′

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Attempt saved. Liel Abada (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
71′

Substitution

Substitution, Celtic. Reo Hatate replaces Paulo Bernardo.

71′

Substitution

Substitution, Celtic. Oh Hyeon-Gyu replaces Kyogo Furuhashi.
69′

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Attempt missed. Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Greg Taylor with a cross.
66′

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Attempt saved. Yang Hyun-Jun (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Greg Taylor.
65′

Substitution

Substitution, St. Mirren. Elvis Bwomono replaces Ryan Flynn.
65′

Substitution

Substitution, St. Mirren. Jonah Ayunga replaces Mikael Mandron.
63′

Substitution

Substitution, Celtic. Liel Abada replaces Daizen Maeda.
63′

Substitution

Substitution, Celtic. Gustaf Lagerbielke replaces Maik Nawrocki.
60′
Goal!

Goal! St. Mirren 0, Celtic 3. Greg Taylor (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Paulo Bernardo following a corner.
60′

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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Zach Hemming.
60′

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Attempt saved. Paulo Bernardo (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Yang Hyun-Jun.
59′

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Corner, St. Mirren. Conceded by Callum McGregor.
58′

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Attempt blocked. Greg Kiltie (St. Mirren) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Scott Tanser.
58′

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Attempt saved. Daizen Maeda (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Alistair Johnston.
56′

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Attempt missed. Richard Taylor (St. Mirren) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
55′

Substitution

Substitution, Celtic. Yang Hyun-Jun replaces Luis Palma.
54′

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Foul by Daizen Maeda (Celtic).
54′

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Caolan Boyd-Munce (St. Mirren) wins a free kick on the left wing.
53′

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Attempt missed. Luis Palma (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left.

51′

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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
51′

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Delay in match because of an injury Greg Taylor (Celtic).

50′

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Greg Taylor (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
50′

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Foul by James Bolton (St. Mirren).
49′

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Attempt blocked. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Matt O’Riley.
48′

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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Mikael Mandron.
48′

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Attempt blocked. Liam Scales (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
47′

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Foul by Luis Palma (Celtic).
47′

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Ryan Flynn (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
46′

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Offside, St. Mirren. Ryan Flynn is caught offside.
Second Half

Second Half begins St. Mirren 0, Celtic 2.
45’+4′

Half Time

First Half ends, St. Mirren 0, Celtic 2.
45’+3′

Dismissal

Toyosi Olusanya (St. Mirren) is shown the red card.
45’+1′

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VAR Decision: Card upgraded Toyosi Olusanya (St. Mirren).
45′

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Joe Hart (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
45′

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Foul by Toyosi Olusanya (St. Mirren).
42′

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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Scott Tanser.
41′

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Luis Palma (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
41′

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Foul by Marcus Fraser (St. Mirren).
37′

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Attempt missed. Matt O’Riley (Celtic) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Luis Palma with a cross following a corner.

36′

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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Richard Taylor.
34′

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Alistair Johnston (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.

34′

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Foul by Toyosi Olusanya (St. Mirren).
33′

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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
33′

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Delay in match because of an injury Zach Hemming (St. Mirren).
32′

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Foul by Daizen Maeda (Celtic).
32′

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Zach Hemming (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
31′

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Luis Palma (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
31′

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Foul by Marcus Fraser (St. Mirren).
30′

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Attempt saved. Maik Nawrocki (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Greg Taylor with a cross.
30′

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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Marcus Fraser.
29′

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Greg Taylor (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
29′

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Foul by Ryan Flynn (St. Mirren).
27′

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Luis Palma (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
27′

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Foul by Marcus Fraser (St. Mirren).
24′

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Foul by Daizen Maeda (Celtic).
24′

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Ryan Flynn (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
24′

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Attempt blocked. Paulo Bernardo (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Luis Palma.
24′

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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by James Bolton.
22′

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

22′

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Foul by Marcus Fraser (St. Mirren).
21′

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Foul by Maik Nawrocki (Celtic).

21′

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Greg Kiltie (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
20′

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Attempt blocked. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Paulo Bernardo with a headed pass.
20′

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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Marcus Fraser.
17′

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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Scott Tanser.
13′

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Attempt missed. Toyosi Olusanya (St. Mirren) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left.
12′

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Foul by Luis Palma (Celtic).
12′

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Ryan Flynn (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
10′

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Offside, Celtic. Kyogo Furuhashi is caught offside.
6′
Goal!

Goal! St. Mirren 0, Celtic 2. Matt O’Riley (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Paulo Bernardo.
3′

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Liam Scales (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
3′

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Foul by Toyosi Olusanya (St. Mirren).
1′
Goal!

Goal! St. Mirren 0, Celtic 1. Daizen Maeda (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Matt O’Riley with a through ball.
Kick Off

First Half begins.
Posted at 18:41

Post update

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.