Scottish Premiership
Wednesday, September, 16, 2020
St Mirren Park, Paisley

ST MIRREN…1
(Erwin 3)

CELTIC…2
(Duffy 21, Forrest 36)

SHANE Duffy scored his second goal for Celtic four days on from netting on his debut to help Celtic to a 2-1 win against St Mirren. The champions fought back from a goal behind in Paisley to take all three points from their game in hand.

Lee Erwin put the hosts in front minutes after kick-off but Duffy levelled midway through the half and James Forrest fired Celtic ahead shortly before half-time.

St Mirren side went ahead inside three minutes from a corner. Joe Shaughnessy flicked the ball on at the near post and debutant, Erwin, pulled away at the back post and squeezed a shot in.

Celtic’s opponents sat in following the goal and made life difficult for the champions who dominated possession but struggled to find any space in and around a packed box.

Edouard came close to levelling in the 18th minute after Ryan Christie switched the play out to James Forrest who chipped a good cross into the box. The French striker got on the end of the dipping cross but his headed effort was narrowly wide of the post.

St Mirren didn’t get off so likely three minutes later when Duffy headed in his second goal four days after scoring on his Celtic debut.

Christie’s set-piece from out wide was attacked by the Irish defender who directed his header downward and beyond Zdenek Zlamal.

Jim Goodwin’s side found themselves under a great deal of pressure after conceding as Celtic went knocking for a second goal.

Zlamal helped keep his side level for longer than they should have thanks to some strong goalkeeping. McGregor drilled a powerful left-footed strike from 20-yards at the Czech keeper who read the trajectory of the ball well to get down and hold on to it.

Christie was a key figure in much of Celtic’s attacking play and he helped create a great chance minutes later when he ran across the edge of the box with the ball and slipped a pass into the path of Edouard. Zlamal came to his side’s rescue again, though, rushing off his line to smother Edouard’s shot from close range.

There was nothing the St Mirren’s stopper could do to prevent Forrest firing Celtic ahead towards the end of the first half. Christie was again the supplier with an excellent ball from the left-hand side which Forrest ran on to and bulleted in with a wonderful header.

It was a buoyant start to the second half for Celtic who created a couple of good chances early on. Edouard was fouled on the edge of the box and his free-kick was tipped around the post by the keeper.

Another good delivery from Christie supplied Klimala with an opportunity but the Polish striker couldn’t keep his headed effort down.

Celtic were reminded of how fragile their lead was when Erwin threatened midway through the second period. The striker chopped the ball on to his right foot and let off a powerful strike from the edge of the area but his effort flew over the crossbar. Jamie McGrath then blasted an effort over from the corner of the box.

The champions passed up an opportunity to extend their lead 15 minutes from the end after Zlamal made yet another great save for his side. McGrath brought down Christie inside the box and Edouard stepped up to the spot-kick but the Czech keeper dived low to his right to save.

Neil Lennon’s side continued to press for a third goal late in the game while Jim Goodwin’s side desperately looked for an opportunity to snatch a late equaliser.

ST MIRREN: Zlamal, Fraser, McCarthy, Foley, Shaughnessy, Tait, McGrath, Erhahon, Connolly (McAllister 64), Erwin, Morias (Obika 80)
Subs: Urminsky, Sheron, MacPherson, Durmus, Jamieson.

CELTIC: Barkas, Taylor, Duffy, Brown, Klimala (Ajeti 64), Christie, Edouard (Ntcham 80), Ajer, McGregor, Elhamed, Forrest (Frimpong 80)
Subs: Bain, Jullien, Bitton, Soro, Turnbull, Elyounoussi

Website Man of the Match: Ryan Christie

Duffy scores again as Celts fight back to defeat St Mirren