Words like fatigue and tiredness have been creeping into the Celtic vocabulary of late. As the nerves jangle amongst the support it seems to me the players aren’t enveloped by the Derby Day madness that chokes the support. Instead the Celtic first team is running on empty and looking with weary eyes and limbs on a trip to Dubai an overdue break and some sun on their backs.
Before all that came a trip to Paisley and a potential banana skin on the Celts title charge to nine in a row. The fact of the matter is the job was done by half time.
Goals in a ten minute first-half spell from Callum McGregor and James Forrest secured an 11th consecutive league win for Neil Lennon’s men.
That’s right eleven straight wins. Only Saints keeper Vaclav Hladky kept St Mirren in it, in the first half exchanges. Out of contract at the end of the season the St Mirren keeper could do a lot worse than Join Fraser Forster and Scott Bain on the goalkeeping roster next season, when you assume Craig Gordon and a hefty wage will be making alternative arrangements, Hladky must surely be worth an interest at least.
Callum McGregor’s clever one-two (granted with the Saint’s post) put the Celts in front and it was more than deserved on the balance of play. The Celts second goal was either offside or broke the offside trap depending on your point of view or slant.
On both viewpoints it is rather debatable. As St Mirren fans rang down the abuse on today’s officials you could forgive the speed of movement as catching them unawares. The alternative reporting of Celts beating an apparently tactical play of the old offside trap appears as daft as the Saints fans outpouring of feelings of injustice.
The simple fact is you can’t be offside from your own half, so neither were St Mirren done over and neither did Celts break an offside trap, the simply scored a fine goal on the break and what a wonderful goal it was. James Forrest finishing off some fine football. That 2-0 lead at half time was the least Celtic deserved.
As the game moved into the second half it was worth remembering that it was close to 10 years since the Paisley saints had emerged victorious in a league game against the Celts. Take on board even in the last five head to heads in the Premiership, until young McPherson’s somewhat fortuitous strike from a dead ball, The Saints hadn’t even scored against Celtic. From where comes all this angst and concern?
As much as St Mirren looked fairly organised and tidy with a change to tactics from Jim Goodwin more attacking and pressing than previous meetings. These two Celtic goals booted them where it hurts and if the truth be told they never really recovered. At no point was the outcome of this encounter ever in the slightest bit in doubt.
Even in a second half where Celtic apparently felt the pressure, Forrest almost grabbed a third goal early in the second half, with Hladky saving brilliantly again and also denying Jeremie Frimpong immediately after, before adding to his reputation with saves from both Edouard and Ntcham. By that stage Celtic could have been four if not more in front.
As much as St Mirren were never in it as a genuine contender to the three points they did keep pushing for their opening and they were much improved in the second half as Celts, more than likely under instruction rested in possession whenever they could. Ryan Flynn had a tame side foot go wide from only five or six yards out and the human battering ram Jon Obika attempted to take advantage from slack play from Christopher Jullien that forced a save Fraser Forster – yes one save from Fraser Forster.
St Mirren probably did get some reward with MacPherson’s deflected free-kick in the final minute, but from open play they didn’t hurt Celtic and the worst you could lay at Celtic was they let the foot off the gas a little. Had I been Neil Lennon I’m fairly sure I’d have told them to conserve energy a little ahead of a derby game on Sunday Lunchtime.
There’s been a little too much gnashing of teeth today. Look across the City. Managerless Kilmarnock had the Rangers struggling at home. It took their talisman Morelos to come in from his naughty step to rescue them. Apparently that goal may even be worth a Sportcsene analysis this weekend regarding a hint of offside. I won’t be holding my breath.
If there was any negative to take it was the feigning of injury from Jullien and Bolingoli. It may be worth a word from the captain as to how we avoid confrontation and simulation.
Other than that it was a professional job done and a game, if we’d had to we could have moved through our gears. That we didn’t have too was down to a first half performance that saw the job done early.
If there is tiredness and fatigue then it’s fully understandable, but give it one more push at home on Sunday then that first beer by a Dubai swimming pool will taste all the sweeter.
Well done Celtic. Job done.
Celtic wore black armbands today in memory of former captain Duncan MacKay, who has died aged 82. All our thoughts and prayers at The Celtic Star are with the family and friends of a true Celt.
Niall J
