Celtic captain Callum McGregor kept the pressure on Premiership leaders Hearts with a 95th-minute screamer to snatch a 1-0 win against St Mirren.
After a fantastic week for Scottish football, the results slumped in Paisley as both teams struggled until the end of the second half with zero shots on target.
The Buddies, who are now without a win in six league games, looked likely to convert a chance when Conor McMenamin hit the post.
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Celtic captain Callum McGregor led his team to an incredible last-minute win against St Mirren.
In the second half, Liam Scales put the ball into his own net, but VAR confirmed an on-field decision as McMenamin was ruled offside.
Shamal George was given no chance when the ball broke to McGregor with seconds remaining, continuing their domestic winning streak under manager Martin O’Neill and extending their lead to four points over the Jambos, who play Aberdeen on Sunday.
Celtic late show amid board protests
Celtic have not dropped a single point in the Premiership since Brendan Rodgers resigned.
Celtic looked set to drop points for the fifth time in 12 Premiership games, but they piled pressure on Hearts ahead of the leaders’ trip to Aberdeen.
Excitement for the match was dampened by the cancellation of Celtic’s annual general meeting, jeers from the board and major shareholder Dermot Desmond’s son Ross hitting back at critics and branding some fans “bullies”.
Anti-Board sentiment and songs against Desmond were played during the game, with the winner followed by a loud rendition of “Suck the Board.”
Celtic fans hold up banners and red cards on the board
St Mirren had the upper hand in the early stages and came close when Declan John advanced and slotted the ball into the face of goal.
McMenamin stretched out and put his foot on the ball, but his touch missed Jayden Richardson’s reach and went just wide of the post.
McMenamin hit the post from 20 yards half-clearing a corner, and Miguel Freckleton fired home from a set-piece.
The closest Celtic came in the first half was when Sebastian Tunekuti cut inside Richardson and fired inches wide.
Johnny Kenny had a chance after Daenen Maeda won the ball, but the new Republic of Ireland international went wide.
Celtic’s caretaker team of O’Neill and Sean Maloney replaced Kenny at half-time with Luke McCowan, allowing Maeda to play in midfield.
The champions asserted themselves in possession and territory, but not in chances.
McGregor’s shot hit Killian Phillips’ elbow from close range, but his penalty appeal was overruled by Kevin Clancy.
Maeda twice came close to breaking through the middle of the organized Saints defense, but was stopped by a foul outside the box on Alex Gogic and a final tackle from Miguel Freckleton.
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St Mirren’s lead was canceled for offside after VAR identified Conor McMenamin’s influence on Liam Scales’ own goal.
St Mirren looked dangerous in the moments, despite dropping deeper for long spells. Richardson had a shot blocked and Keanu Bacchus saw a curling shot kept by Schmeichel, but an offside flag in the 69th minute prevented them.
As the Celtic defender scooped the ball towards goal, McMenamin was in front of Scales and blocked Phillips’ flick from reaching the St Mirren midfielder.
Saints had a good chance late in the game for John to receive a return pass, but the left-back fired straight at Schmeichel.
Celtic finally attacked George as Dane Murray’s header found its way into the hands of the St Mirren goalkeeper.
It looked like this might be the last chance, but McGregor fired a shot into the top corner of the goal, sparking a pitch invasion of Celtic supporters celebrating their deaths.
“Imagine this Celtic team without Callum McGregor.”
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Callum McGregor believes Celtic need to unite following protests at the club’s annual general meeting.
Chris Sutton of Sky Sports:
“I think in difficult times for the club you need leaders to step forward and he did it in the right way in an important moment. It looked like the game was going in Celtic’s favor. It was a great finish.”
“He’s a first-class player, always has been. Imagine this Celtic team without Callum McGregor. There are some fans who would suggest he was having his best days.”
“I still think he’s a very important part of this Celtic team, leading from the front. He’s a very first-class player. Like I said, imagine a Celtic team without Callum McGregor.”
“I can’t imagine the Celtic team working as well as they did if he eventually left. So far he’s been a great player, stepping up when it matters and that’s what Martin O’Neill would want from him.”
O’Neill: “A draw would have been a fair result”
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Celtic caretaker manager Martin O’Neill has described his reaction after Callum McGregor’s late winner against St Mirren.
Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill told Sky Sports:
“Overall, I didn’t think we took enough shots throughout the game, but Callum came up with a really good goal.
“St Mirren played exactly as we expected. They were very strong and very good. They kept us at bay. We canceled each other out. I’m happy that we won, but we can do more.”
“We didn’t use the ball, we didn’t take care of the ball. We didn’t do that and you have to do that.
“Now we have a little bit more confidence in ourselves and we were able to go all the way, which was great and we are happy with the result.
“We may be looking at the end of the season from quite a distance, but it’s a close game and we need to try to win.
“Even if it’s a draw and it’s a legitimate result, that’s what keeps us going.”
On his future ahead of Celtic’s Europa League game against Feyenoord:
“The game is on Thursday and the flight is on Wednesday, so you better make your decision before then!”
Robinson: “We beat us again by a close football margin”
St Mirren are without a win in their last six Premiership games.
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson said on Sky Sports:
“I thought we were great, the small margin of football beat us again.
“We had a goal called off. Maybe they’ll make some excuse to justify it. McMenamin isn’t lined up with the goalie. The defenders don’t see him.”
“This is four goals canceled in four games, which is really frustrating.
“The referee should be making decisions on the screen, but that’s not the case.
“Despite the result, we have played well. We must continue to work hard to move up the rankings.”
