Celtic limp to victory over St.Mirren in SPL opener

[greendave]

The SPL Champions got their campaign off to a winning start at Celtic Park today....just.

Rarely in the history of the game will a team have done less to earn 3 points. The win came courtesy of a dubious penalty award in the 2nd half, which Barry Robson just converted with the Buddies goalkeeper almost managing to keep it out. Celtic hardly threatened the St.Mirren goal all afternoon despite enjoying the majority of possession.

The day had started with an emotional league flag unfurling ceremony. The Celtic chairman John Reid was accompanied onto the podium by Tommy Burns' widow Rosemary who did the honours after a short video on the big screens showing Tommy signing 'Mack the Knife' along with highlights of his illustrious Celtic career.

All the emotion of the ceremony seemed to take the edge off the home team in the opening stages of the match with the visitors starting brightly. Boruc had to save smartly at his near post after only 5 minutes. It wasn't long before Celtic began to dominate the ball, but most of the possession was in our own half.

St.Mirren had set up a 4-1-4-1 formation with Murray screening in front of his back four. He managed to almost entirely shut off supply to Vennegoor of Hesselink and McDonald up front. It was only when McGeady or Robson drifted in from their wide positions that Celtic threatened. This well drilled defensive formation frustrated the Champions and restricted them to a few speculative shots from distance.

No changes were made at half time, and only 5 minutes into the 2nd period Celtic had Artur Boruc and the width of the post to thank for the scores remaining level. The now legendary Polish keeper made an astonishing fingertip save from the impressive Mehmet forcing the shot onto the post.

If the fans were hoping this warning would spur their team into some kind of reaction they were disappointed. With the home team continuing to huff and puff in front of the St.Mirren goal it took a rare defensive error and a generous refereeing decision to break the deadlock.

The St.Mirren defence allowed a speculative through-ball to bounce, allowing Vennegoor of Hesselink to run in on goal. Both the Celtic striker and defender challenged for the ball with both jostling for position before Hesselink toepoked the ball past the post. However referee Smith deemed the defender to have impeded Hesselink, awarded the home team a penalty and showed a red card to Haining.

Robson stepped up and blasted the ball, but Howard in the St.Mirren goal got a good touch on it and almost clawed the ball out before it crossed the line. The manner of the goal seemed to sum up the day for Celtic. Not very good...........but just good enough.

Despite a late flurry from 10 man Saints, Celtic hung on for a win. Which was just about the only good thing which can be said about the game.

TC Man of the Match..........Scott Brown.

Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor (Wilson 74), Robson (Caddis 81), Scott Brown, Hartley, McGeady, Vennegoor of Hesselink, McDonald (Samaras 75).
Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, Donati, O'Dea, McGowan.



St Mirren: Howard, Ross, Haining, Potter, Miranda, Murray, Brady (Gilerao 63), O'Donnell (Wyness 82), McGinn, Mehmet, Brighton (McAusland 63).
Subs Not Used: Smith, Hamilton, Barron, McCay.