Celtic held to St Mirren stalemate

Celtic were held to a goalless draw by St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership, with the gap to Rangers at the top of the table now six points with both sides having played 19 games.

The match went ahead despite St Mirren’s request for a postponement due to a Covid-19 outbreak among their squad. Celtic came into the match with the Scottish League Cup back in their trophy cabinet, having beaten Hibernian in Sunday’s final.

But Ange Postecoglou’s side were unable to find their way past the Saints defence, having made six changes from the weekend. Nir Bitton had a curling free-kick saved in the first half, with Liel Abada hitting the post on a tight angle.

Celtic continued to probe after the break – Abada twice missing superb crosses from Callum McGregor and Anthony Ralston – with St Mirren looking threatening on the break. However, Scott Bain was only really worked when Curtis Main fired into his arms after a quick Jay Henderson break.

The result leaves Celtic six points behind Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership table, although their Old Firm meeting on January 2 has been postponed until February. St Mirren will ultimately be pleased with the result given their pre-match request, remaining in ninth place.

How the stalemate played out

There was little of note until the eighth minute when Michael Johnston slalomed into the St Mirren penalty area to fire in a powerful drive which was parried away by stand-in ‘keeper Dean Lyness.

Moments later, Lyness, in for Jak Alnwick for his first game since a Premier Sports Cup tie in July, dived to his right to push away a goal-bound free-kick by Bitton for a corner which was defended.

Celtic stepped up the pressure and Liam Scales, Anthony Ralston, Abada and skipper McGregor all had efforts which carried various degrees of danger.

The home side were penned in, unable to do much more than defend and at times, desperately, notwithstanding a shot from defender Charles Dunne in the 36th minute which hit the side-netting in a rare brief spell of Saints pressure.

Without star striker Kyogo Furuhashi, who scored twice in the cup final but was left out to manage a hamstring problem, and no natural centre-forward, Celtic had lacked a cutting edge.

Three minutes after the break there was another example of that deficiency when Johnston shot straight at Lyness from a Ralston cut-back.

However, Celtic maintained control and again the Buddies were camped at the edge of their own box, repelling a series of passes and crosses.

Josip Juranovic, ostensibly a full-back, took over from the ineffectual Owen Moffat on the hour mark. The pressure remained incessant. Soon afterwards, a curling effort from McGregor was grabbed by Lyness at the second attempt.

Then Buddies skipper Joe Shaughnessy cleared Johnston’s effort from under the bar. Saints survived the corner and after a swift break by Henderson, he set up Main to fire straight at Bain.

Still Celtic drove forward. In the 75th minute a Juranovic free-kick from 25 yards escaped Lyness’ right-hand post.

Liam Shaw came on for Bitton seven minutes later, moments before Ralston’s delicious delivery across the Buddies box again found no takers.

Daniel McManus replaced Kieran Offord in the 87th minute to make his Saints debut and help the home side see out five nervy minutes for a morale-boosting point.

What the managers said

What’s next?

Both sides will be back in Scottish Premiership action on Boxing Day. Celtic are again on their travels, facing St Johnstone, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 12.30pm. St Mirren will take on Rangers at Ibrox; kick-off 3pm.