Celtic 3 - 1 St Mirren
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By Andy Campbell
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 McDonald's goals helped Celtic to the top of the SPL
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Celtic returned to the top of the Scottish Premier League following a comfortable home win over St Mirren.
Scott McDonald and Georgios Samaras scored in quick succession to put the home side in command.
Michael Higdon pulled one back for Saints just before the interval but McDonald restored Celtic's two-goal advantage on 61 minutes.
Chris Innes' handball gave McDonald the chance of a hat-trick but the striker's penalty was saved by Paul Gallacher.
Celtic's win, allied to Rangers' defeat to Aberdeen earlier in the day, allowed Tony Mowbray's side to go two points clear of their Old Firm rivals, with the Ibrox club having played a game less.
Zheng Zhi, Samaras and McDonald had efforts at goal before the visitors' Andy Dorman limped off to be replaced by Higdon on 20 minutes.
St Mirren briefly frustrated their hosts with some stubborn defending but often wanted too much time to clear their lines and it seemed inevitable that Celtic would eventually find an opening.
And it came on 39 minutes as Samaras dinked a pass through to McDonald, who shot past Gallacher with the aid of a slight deflection off Innes.
Carelessness cost St Mirren three minutes later as Higdon was caught in possession by Landry N'Guemo and Aiden McGeady picked up the loose ball and began to drive at the St Mirren defence.
The Republic of Ireland international carried the ball to the edge of the area and laid on a pass for Samaras to side-foot into the net with a simple finish.
Higdon atoned for his earlier mishap when he capitalised on a defensive error to drag St Mirren back into the match.
Billy Mehmet's cross to the edge of the box was intercepted by Marc Crosas but the Spaniard appeared to mis-control the ball as he played it back towards his own goal and Higdon nipped in to the lift the ball into the net.
McGeady and Hinkel combined early in the second half but the latter could not get enough purchase on the shot as Gallacher claimed comfortably.
Celtic continued to press and McGeady crossed for McDonald to volley home at the near post and all but clinch the three points.
The home side thought they had a fourth when Crosas' corner bounced off McDonald's chest and Zhi fired home from close range but the Australian had already been flagged offside.
Mehmet volleyed over from a promising position and Dargo's tame shot was saved by Lukasz Zaluska either side of Marc-Antoine Fortune blazing over at the other end.
Fortune's frustration in front of goal continued as his angled shot cleared the far post and Danny Fox's long-range drive was impressively saved by Gallacher.
Referee Steve Conroy pointed to the spot in injury time after Innes blatantly handled Barry Robson's corner.
The St Mirren defender was shown a yellow and then a red card but quickly returned to the fray after referee Conroy realised that Innes had not previously been booked.
McDonald shot low to Gallacher's left and the former Scotland goalkeeper guessed correctly to make the save and also blocked the forward's rebound effort.
Live text and stats
Saturday, 28 November 2009
Scottish Premier
| Home Team | Score | Away Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celtic | 3-1 | St Mirren | R |
| (HT 2-1) | |||
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|
||
Celtic
- 24 Zaluska
- 02 Hinkel
- 05 Caldwell yellow card
- 11 Fox
- 22 Loovens
- 06 N'Guemo
- 17 Crosas
- 27 Zhi (Robson 85)
- 46 McGeady (McGinn 87)
- 07 McDonald
- 09 Samaras (Fortune 64)
Substitutes
- 47 Cervi,
- 04 McManus,
- 38 Thompson,
- 14 McGinn,
- 19 Robson,
- 36 Carey,
- 10 Fortune
St Mirren
- 01 Gallacher
- 05 Mair yellow card
- 19 Barron
- 21 Innes yellow card
- 02 Ross
- 04 McGinn (Johnston 67)
- 07 Murray (Dargo 79)
- 08 Dorman (Higdon 19)
- 10 Thomson
- 14 Brady
- 09 Mehmet
Substitutes
- 20 Howard,
- 06 Potter,
- 27 Mclean,
- 28 Devlin,
- 41 Johnston,
- 11 Higdon,
- 18 Dargo
- Final Result
- Full Time
- 90:00+3:12 The final whistle goes and the game is over.
- 90:00+2:01 Corner from left by-line taken by Barry Robson.
- 90:00+0:57 Placed penalty taken by Scott McDonald saved by Paul Gallacher. Celtic 3-1 St Mirren.
- 90:00+0:57 Booking Chris Innes goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.
- 90:00+0:06 Chris Innes is penalised for handball and concedes a .
- 89:29 Corner from right by-line taken by Barry Robson.
- 89:20 Daniel Fox takes a shot. Save by Paul Gallacher.
- 88:33 Barry Robson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Allan Johnston. Paul Gallacher restarts play with the free kick.
- 86:41 Substitution Aiden McGeady leaves the field to be replaced by Niall McGinn.
- 86:29 Marc-Antoine Fortune has an effort at goal from close in which goes wide right of the target.
- 84:55 Craig Dargo takes a shot. Save by Lukasz Zaluska.
- 84:24 Substitution Barry Robson comes on in place of Zheng Zhi.
- 83:45 The referee blows for offside. Paul Gallacher takes the indirect free kick.
- 81:29 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jack Ross by Marc-Antoine Fortune. Jack Ross restarts play with the free kick.
- 80:51 Aiden McGeady takes a shot from just outside the penalty area which clears the crossbar.
- 79:38 Effort from deep inside the area by Marc-Antoine Fortune clears the bar.
- 78:29 Substitution Hugh Murray leaves the field to be replaced by Craig Dargo.
- 77:44 Gary Caldwell challenges Michael Higdon unfairly and gives away a free kick. The ball is sent over by Jack Ross, Effort on goal by Billy Mehmet from inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the bar.
- 76:50 Corner taken right-footed by Garry Brady to the near post, Marc Crosas manages to make a clearance.
- 75:13 The assistant referee signals for offside against Scott McDonald. Paul Gallacher takes the free kick.
- 74:56 Marc Crosas decides to take a short corner.
- 74:11 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Zheng Zhi by Hugh Murray. Daniel Fox fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
- 72:59 The ball is delivered by Marc-Antoine Fortune, clearance by Lee Mair.
- 71:19 The official flags Billy Mehmet offside. Glenn Loovens restarts play with the free kick.
- 70:12 Gary Caldwell fouled by Billy Mehmet, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Lukasz Zaluska.
- 69:44 Corner taken by Garry Brady, clearance by Gary Caldwell.
- Correction - 68:24 Shot on goal comes in from Jack Ross from the free kick, blocked by Gary Caldwell.
- 68:24 Jack Ross takes the free kick.
- 68:24 Booking Gary Caldwell goes into the referee's book.
- 68:03 Gary Caldwell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Michael Higdon.
- 66:18 Substitution Allan Johnston joins the action as a substitute, replacing Stephen McGinn.
- 64:42 Marc-Antoine Fortune takes a shot. Save by Paul Gallacher.
- 64:12 Scott McDonald fouled by Chris Innes, the ref awards a free kick. Daniel Fox restarts play with the free kick.
- 63:49 Substitution Marc-Antoine Fortune on for Georgios Samaras.
- 62:11 Scott McDonald takes a shot. Blocked by Lee Mair.
- 60:24 Aiden McGeady provided the assist for the goal.
- 60:24 GOAL - Scott McDonald:Celtic 3 - 1 St Mirren Scott McDonald finds the net with a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Celtic 3-1 St Mirren.
- 59:39 Free kick awarded for a foul by Billy Mehmet on Zheng Zhi. Daniel Fox takes the direct free kick.
- 56:57 Georgios Samaras fouled by Chris Innes, the ref awards a free kick. Daniel Fox restarts play with the free kick.
- 55:49 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Daniel Fox, Paul Gallacher makes a save.
- 55:45 Aiden McGeady produces a cross, Chris Innes manages to make a clearance.
- 54:03 The referee blows for offside against Michael Higdon. Lukasz Zaluska takes the indirect free kick.
- 53:47 Andreas Hinkel takes a shot. Save by Paul Gallacher.
- 53:02 A cross is delivered by Aiden McGeady, Chris Innes manages to make a clearance.
- 51:32 Marc Crosas fouled by Michael Higdon, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Landry N'Guemo.
- 49:36 Corner taken by Daniel Fox from the right by-line, save by Paul Gallacher.
- 47:59 Free kick taken by Gary Caldwell.
- 47:59 Booking Booking for Lee Mair.
- 47:52 Lee Mair challenges Georgios Samaras unfairly and gives away a free kick.
- 46:31 The ball is swung over by Jack Ross, Marc Crosas manages to make a clearance.
- 45:01 The referee gets the second half started.
- Half Time
- 45:00+2:10 The match has reached half-time.
- 45:00+1:47 Georgios Samaras sends in a cross, clearance by David Barron.
- 45:00+0:41 Georgios Samaras is caught offside. Paul Gallacher restarts play with the free kick.
- 44:27 Assist on the goal came from Billy Mehmet.
- 44:27 GOAL - Michael Higdon:Celtic 2 - 1 St Mirren Michael Higdon finds the back of the net with a goal from close range high into the middle of the goal. Celtic 2-1 St Mirren.
- 43:10 Outswinging corner taken by Garry Brady from the right by-line.
- 43:01 Billy Mehmet takes a shot. Blocked by Zheng Zhi.
- 42:12 Unfair challenge on Michael Higdon by Gary Caldwell results in a free kick. Jack Ross takes the free kick.
- 41:07 Assist by Aiden McGeady.
- 41:07 GOAL - Georgios Samaras:Celtic 2 - 0 St Mirren Goal scored by Georgios Samaras from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Celtic 2-0 St Mirren.
- 40:26 Headed effort from inside the area by Chris Innes misses to the left of the goal.
- 40:19 Hugh Murray sends in a cross, save made by Lukasz Zaluska.
- 40:00 Garry Brady decides to take a short corner.
- 39:29 Free kick awarded for a foul by Gary Caldwell on Michael Higdon. Free kick taken by Jack Ross.
- 38:09 GOAL - Chris Innes:Celtic 1 - 0 St Mirren Chris Innes puts the ball into his own goal from 6 yards. Celtic 1-0 St Mirren.
- 35:57 Daniel Fox fouled by Jack Ross, the ref awards a free kick. Lukasz Zaluska restarts play with the free kick.
- 34:09 Centre by Andreas Hinkel.
- 31:21 Aiden McGeady takes a shot. Save made by Paul Gallacher.
- 30:27 Aiden McGeady takes a shot. Blocked by Lee Mair.
- 30:09 The ball is swung over by Andreas Hinkel, clearance made by Chris Innes.
- 30:01 Andreas Hinkel sends in a cross.
- 29:29 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gary Caldwell by Michael Higdon. Glenn Loovens restarts play with the free kick.
- 28:28 Daniel Fox takes a corner.
- 27:37 Billy Mehmet is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Lukasz Zaluska takes the indirect free kick.
- 27:23 Aiden McGeady produces a cross, Jack Ross manages to make a clearance.
- 26:47 The ball is delivered by Daniel Fox, Chris Innes manages to make a clearance.
- 25:59 Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael Higdon on Andreas Hinkel. Lukasz Zaluska takes the free kick.
- 25:19 A cross is delivered by Garry Brady, clearance by Marc Crosas.
- 25:11 Centre by Jack Ross, clearance made by Glenn Loovens.
- 24:36 Foul by Billy Mehmet on Gary Caldwell, free kick awarded. Gary Caldwell takes the free kick.
- 24:15 Daniel Fox produces a cross, save made by Paul Gallacher.
- 23:27 The assistant referee signals for offside against Billy Mehmet. Lukasz Zaluska restarts play with the free kick.
- 22:48 Centre by Andreas Hinkel, save by Paul Gallacher.
- 22:23 Hugh Murray concedes a free kick for a foul on Zheng Zhi. Landry N'Guemo takes the free kick.
- 18:29 Substitution Michael Higdon joins the action as a substitute, replacing Andy Dorman.
- 15:27 Scott McDonald has an effort at goal from close in which goes wide right of the target.
- 14:51 The ball is crossed by Daniel Fox, save by Paul Gallacher.
- 11:37 Georgios Samaras produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the goal.
- 10:48 Chris Innes fouled by Scott McDonald, the ref awards a free kick. Paul Gallacher restarts play with the free kick.
- 10:43 The ball is sent over by Aiden McGeady, clearance made by Chris Innes.
- 9:14 The ball is sent over by Daniel Fox, Lee Mair makes a clearance.
- 8:37 David Barron is ruled offside. Gary Caldwell takes the free kick.
- 8:04 Aiden McGeady sends in a cross, Paul Gallacher makes a save.
- 4:07 David Barron gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Aiden McGeady. Marc Crosas restarts play with the free kick.
- 3:42 Zheng Zhi takes a shot. Paul Gallacher makes a save.
- 0:00 The referee gets the game started.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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