Celtic 3 St Mirren 1
00:00
TONY MOWBRAY has made two changes to his side for today’s SPL match with St Mirren at Celtic Park. Kick off is at 3pm.
Barry Robson and Marc-Antoine Fortune both drop to the bench, with Zheng Zhi and Georgios Samaras handed starts. The Chinese captain is expected to play on the right side of midfield.
If Celtic beat St Mirren, the Hoops will move back to the top of the SPL after Rangers lost 1-0 against Aberdeen at Pittodrie earlier this afternoon.
TODAY’S TEAMS:
CELTIC (4-4-2) Zaluska; Hinkel, Caldwell, Loovens, Fox; Zheng, Crosas, NGuemo, McGeady; McDonald, Samaras
SUBS: Cervi, Thompson, McManus, Carey, Robson, Fortune, McGinn
ST MIRREN (4-5-1): Gallacher; Ross, Mair, Innes, Barron; McGinn, Murray, Dorman, Thomson, Brady; Mehmet
SUBS: Howard, Potter, Higdon, Dargo, McLean, Devlin, Johnston
00:01
Celtic kick off
04:00
McGeady shows great skill to spin into space, race into the box and pick out ZZ - whose shot is saved by Gallacher
10:00
Celtic are seeing a lot of the ball but St Mirren are defending well
11:00
McGeady cuts in from the right and tries to pick out McDonald, but Innes heads clear
12:00
Samaras rides two challenges and sends a shot wide of target
12:00
Fox tries to pick out Samaras at the back post but St Mirren goalkeeper Gallacher claims
17:00
Great move from Celtic. McGeady takes a McDonald pass, spots Hinkel's run and the German's cross is volleyed over by McDonald
18:00
St Mirren's Dorman goes down heavily and gets treatment
19:00
Higdon replaces Dorman for St Mirren
23:00
Celtic again keep the ball well but Hinkel's cross is far too high
26:00
St Mirren seem to be coming more into the game
27:00
McGeady and Fox combine but the full-back's cross is cleared
29:00
Better play from Celtic leads to an opening for McDonald who wins a corner
30:00
Fox swings a corner in but nobody attacks it
31:00
Wonderful battling play and skill from ZZ lifts Celtic and McGeady's shot is blocked
32:00
McGeady skips inside and lets fly but the shot doesn't carry enough power
35:00
Caldwell's pass for McDonald is too heavy
38:00
GOAL! McDONALD - CELTIC 1 ST MIRREN 0 - The Aussie strikes with the aid of a deflection off Chris Innes after a great through ball from Samaras
40:00
St Mirren win a corner and Zaluska does well to punch clear under pressure
42:00
GOAL! GEORGIOS SAMARAS - CELTIC 2 ST MIRREN 0 - Brilliant break from Celtic, started by NGuemo's tackle, sees McGeady sprint free and slip a pass to Samaras, who slots home from 10 yards.
44:00
Mehmet's free-kick is blocked by the Celtic wall and St Mirren win a corner, which is defended well
45:00
Goal! Celtic 2 St Mirren 1 - Disastrous concession for Celtic. Mehmet's cross isn't dealt with by Crosas and Higdon slots home
45:00
Half-time: Celtic 2 St Mirren 1 - McDonald and Samaras score for Celtic, while Higdon was on target for St Mirren
45:01
St Mirren kick off second half
47:00
Fox swings a corner into the box but there are no takers
53:00
McGeady skins Barron and clips a cross into the box but Innes clears
57:00
McGeady wins a corner. Fox takes and Gallacher claims
60:00
NGuemo attempts to break free down the right but can't get a cross in
61:00
GOAL! SCOTT McDONALD - CELTIC 3 ST MIRREN 1 - Great goal from Celtic. McGeady is released down the right and his cross is perfect for McDonald who steers home at the front post
65:00
Celtic sub - Fortune on for Samaras
66:00
Fox clips a free-kick to Fortune, whose header is saved
67:00
St Mirren sub - Johnston on for McGinn
69:00
Caldwell is penalised for a tug on Mehmet on the edge of the box and is booked
71:00
Ross fires a free-kick towards goal but Fox diverts clear for a corner. Celtic defend well
74:00
Fortune races free down the left but his cross can't find McDonald
75:00
ZZ wins a free-kick 22 yards out. Fox takes and his shot is blocked
77:00
ZZ has the ball in the net following a corner but McDonald had teed him up from an offside position
78:00
St Mirren win a corner. Brady takes it and Crosas clears at the front post
80:00
St Mirren sub - Dargo on for Murray
82:00
Hinkel takes a McGeady pass and crosses for Fortune, but the shot is high
86:00
Celtic sub - Robson on for ZZ
87:00
Great play from Fortune and McGeady ends with thye striker firing inches wide
90:00
Fox tries his luck from distance but Gallacher pulls off a wonderful save
90:00
Missed penalty for Celtic as McDonald blows chance of hat-trick. Bizarre stuff. Innes inexplicably handles to give Celtic a penalty and is shown a red card. He leaves the field but is then ordered to return after referee Conroy realises his mistake. McDonald then misses
90:00
FULL-TIME: CELTIC 3 ST MIRREN 1 - Goals from McDonald (2) and Samaras put Celtic top of the SPL table. McDonald missed a last-minute penalty.
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