Celtic 1 St Mirren 0
On a day when anything less than all three points was simply unthinkable from a Celtic perspective, Martin O’Neill’s players scrambled their way to a victory which keeps their title defence alive.
We are very much at the stage of the season where results matter more than performances – which is just as well for a team who remain wholly unconvincing.
On the balance of play, they just about deserved the win here but were made to sweat and toil for it by a progressive and well organised St Mirren side who strained every sinew in their own bid to avoid the relegation play-off spot.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s early goal might have been expected to provide Celtic with a platform for a more comfortable afternoon.
Instead, they retreated into a shell at times, especially during a spell of the second half when St Mirren looked the likelier side but without asking any serious questions of home keeper Viljami Sinisalo.
Oxlade-Chamberlain celebrates after scoring early in the 1-0 win over St Mirren
It remains difficult to envisage this Celtic side putting together a run of five straight wins when the post split fixtures commence in a fortnight, even if three of their games are at home.
Yet they are still in there pitching and have a degree of tenacity under O’Neill which means they remain contenders for a Premiership and Scottish Cup double.
To win the latter, they will need to overcome St Mirren again at Hampden next Sunday and that is no foregone conclusion.
Interim Saints boss Craig McLeish oversaw another admirable display from his players here which will give him belief they can steer clear of that dreaded 11th place in the table. They are now just two points clear of Kilmarnock but look to have enough to survive.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain keeps his cool to put Celtic 1-0 up against St MIrren
Celtic’s decision to welcome the unrepentant Green Brigade back to the stadium, with the ultras group even demanding an apology from the club in response to the news their five month ban was being lifted, was perhaps an exercise in pragmatism by the board of directors.
You would certainly have given a penny for chairman Brian Wilson’s thoughts when the returning section of the support unfurled a banner before kick-off with a quote from IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands’ prison diaries – ‘Everyone has their own particular part to play’.
Whatever the politics of the situation, there was certainly a more buoyant and noisy atmosphere inside Celtic Park as the defending champions sought to build a sense of unity on and off the pitch for the title run-in.
Oxlade-Chamberlain hasn’t made as much of an impact as O’Neill might have hoped when he recruited the former Liverpool and Arsenal man as a free agent in February but the 32-year-old still possesses smatterings of star quality.
Tomas Cvancara catches St Mirren goalkeeper Shamal George on the head
Before he put Celtic in front, Oxlade-Chamberlain had already displayed his technical prowess with a sweetly struck volley beyond Shamal George after the St Mirren keeper had parried a long range shot from Callum McGregor.
That effort was quickly and correctly ruled out for offside but there was no dispute over his 16th minute breakthrough which came in similar circumstances.
St Mirren had actually settled into the game after a difficult start but were undone when another McGregor shot was blocked by Alex Gogic whose fellow defenders were slow to react to the loose ball.
Oxlade-Chamberlain was onto it like a flash and whipped an emphatic low finish beyond the helpless George.
If the home fans expected an onslaught to follow, they were disappointed. While Celtic dominated possession, St Mirren dug in and kept the ball with good composure whenever it came their way.
Mikael Mandron should have done better than head wide from a Miguel Freckleton cross as the visitors indicated they would carry a threat of their own.
They suffered a blow, however, in the 32nd minute when George was hurt in a painful clash with Tomas Cvancara as he bravely challenged the big Czech striker who was trying to get on the end of Daizen Maeda’s low ball across the face of the six yard box. George was unable to continue after lengthy treatment and was replaced by former Celtic youth player Ryan Mullen.
Celtic striker Kelechi Iheanacho misses a chance to make the result safe
St Mirren’s deputy, making only his second league appearance for the club, enjoyed an early confidence boost when he did well to clutch a curling shot from Celtic’s top scorer Benjamin Nygren.
Celtic looked increasingly nervy as the first half ticked into six minutes of stoppage time and Liam Donnelly almost grabbed a leveller for Saints when he headed narrowly over from Declan John’s corner.
The anxiety levels continued to escalate for the hosts after the break. There was a lack of fluidity in their work while St Mirren grew in confidence and ambition, albeit without being able to create clear cut openings.
Cvancara had yet again delivered a wholly underwhelming display up front for Celtic and the Borussia Moenchengladbach loanee was replaced by Kelechi Iheanacho for the final half hour.
St Mirren interim manager Craig McLeish looks on from the sidelines during Saturday’s game
The Nigerian’s fitness issues make his inability to play the full 90 minutes another source of concern for O’Neill who has already conceded that Celtic’s striking problems mean they have no chance of winning the title on goal difference if it comes down to it.
Iheanacho did show he could still have a crucial role to play when he came off the bench to grab the winner at Dundee last Sunday and the former Manchester City man had an opportunity to ease the tension for Celtic here.
He was picked out by Maeda’s low cross from the left but miscued his near post effort and sent it wide from inside the six yard box.
Celtic ultimately saw the game out and proceeded on a lap of honour to acknowledge their supporters.
As they reached the Green Brigade section, new banners were unfurled reading ‘Celtic Board – Unfit For Purpose’ and ‘Unbowed, Unbroken’.
Unity, it seems, is still very much a fragile concept at Celtic Park.
