Celtic 2-2 St Mirren – Cause for Concern ahead of Inverness

There is cause for concern today. It was a game that will not matter in the grand scheme of things, and neutrals and St Mirren supporters will say that it had good entertainment value, but Celtic supporters cannot be happy about the two goals that were lost, nor the way that the forwards failed to find the winner at the end.

Both Celtic’s goals were good ones scored by Kyogu and McGregor, and much appreciated by the crowd, and on several other occasions there was hard luck. But that does not excuse the general performance and the two Paisley goals scored by Curtis Main, a man incidentally that Celtic might have a look at in more detail.

The first goal was Ralston’s mistake originally but was not rescued by the other defenders, and the second was an inexplicable decision by Joe Hart not to go for a ball, believing presumably that Main was offside. One can never make such assumptions!

Basically, we were missing Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston. Frankly Iwata does not really look like a centre half, and Starfelt, who has had a good season most of the time, was sucked into the general mediocrity of a team which looked careless and tired and needed to be reminded that there is still a job to be done in two weeks time.

Kyogo Furuhashi of Celtic reacts at full time during the Celtic vs St Mirren Cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park on May 20, 2023 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Too many players had off days. Jota was poor, Hatate can do better and really must learn to keep a ball down when he shoots for goal, and Maeda who has impressed all season with his “engine” looked as if he could do with a rest. McGregor redeemed himself with his good goal but was far from what he can be, and O’Riley was anonymous and unimpressive.

The substitutes, when they came on huffed and puffed, but failed to blow the house down, although Oh had hard luck on one occasion.

No real harm done, but if we play like that in a fortnight’s time, a shock Cup final cannot be ruled out. Any spy from Inverness would have taken note at how these two soft goals went in. The game must now be upped. We must make no assumptions about Inverness, and we must always, always remember Feyenoord in 1970. It would be a shame to throw away a Scottish Cup when we have the players to win it easily – providing that everyone plays to their potential.

Callum McGregor of Celtic celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the Celtic vs St Mirren Cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park on May 20, 2023 i(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

For the last two League games, I would rest a few player for Hibs at Easter Road, but I would take the Aberdeen game as a Cup final rehearsal. Aberdeen are a side, from whom I expect rather more of a challenge next year than we have had for a while, and they will certainly be trying to impress Barry Robson and wanting to beat the Champions, and we do not want to have the trophy presented after a defeat! That has happened before, with Aberdeen doing the deed as well, if memory serves me well.

Either way, Celtic’s game must be improved. I worry about Inverness.

David Potter

About Author

I am Celtic author and historian and write for The Celtic Star. I live in Kirkcaldy and have followed Celtic all my life, having seen them first at Dundee in March 1958. I am a retired teacher and my other interests are cricket, drama and the poetry of Robert Burns.

3 Comments

  1. Get rid of joe hart this guy is absolutely diabolical a couple of good saves a keeper does not make god forbid i would select Barkas over Hart(attack) it looks joe has lost all confidence or he has just given up Get RID

  2. David,
    I too was thinking about Feyenoord 1970 almost as soon as the Semi Final was won. Would CCV have gone for his operation when he did if we had been playing Rangers in the Final?
    I was not too surprised at drop off after title was won but once you get into the rut it can be hard to get out of it.
    Perhaps the last couple of games might be blessing in disguise if it means removing any complacency that might have been creeping in.

  3. We were perfectly seated to view both St Mirren goals.
    Ralston’s mistake gifted them a shot which Joe should have saved
    .
    2nd goal looked offside but Joe should have come off his line.
    He definitely off the the boil.
    Hail Hail.