ORAN’S A BIT TRICKY
New Saints boss Kearney conjures up a point thanks to magician pal as silly Bhoy Ntcham does a vanishing act
ORAN KEARNEY brought in a magician to motivate his men but the new St Mirren boss showed he has a few tricks up his sleeve as well as he conjured a result against Celtic in his first game.
Hoops midfielder Olivier Ntcham did a vanishing act with his first-half red card but it was hard graft rather than sorcery that helped Saints earn a draw with the champions.
Kearney brought in Irish pickpocket magician Rodd Hogg in the build-up to entertain his squad yet the Buddies didn’t nick a point – it was deserved.
The new gaffer’s pal also does a line in hypnotism and the Saints were like men possessed as they produced their best display of the season.
Kearney’s first job was to make most of the Alan Stubbs’s signings disappear.
The former gaffer brought in 11 players over the summer but only two of them started last night – and one of them was making his debut in Ryan Edwards.
Former West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand was only in the door and yet slotted in like he’d been patrolling Paisley for years.
In contrast Celtic looked like a side meeting up for the first time instead of getting back together after two weeks on international duty.
Strangely the Hoops were actually better after Ntcham was sent packing by ref Andrew Dallas for a second yellow before half-time.
Rodgers went for broke rather than settle for a point but Kearney managed to turn a disgruntled squad into a group willing to fight for everything.
Celts threw everything at them late on but couldn’t find a bit of magic in the final third.
Brendan Rodgers pulled Filip Benkovic out of the hat on transfer deadline day and the borrowed Leicester City defender was thrown in for his first start. Ferdinand and Edwards were in the same boat and given a not-so-gentle introduction to the Scottish game.
Edwards managed to get booked just 90 seconds into his debut after the Aussie cemented Kieran Tierney on the touchline.
Saints were lively and Ntcham got caught cheekily sticking out an arm to block the ball 25 yards from goal. The Frenchman somehow avoided a booking while keeper Craig Gordon had to throw out an arm as well – to paw away Cammy Smith’s thumping free-kick.
Kyle Magennis lashed over from a tight angle before Ryan Flynn was too high with a free header from Lee Hodson’s cross.
It was a lucky escape for Celts and it looked like whatever the Magic Circle man did in the build-up had done the trick.
The champions took a bit of time to warm
up. James Forrest was keen though. Two nights twiddling his thumbs on the Scotland bench had obviously left him chomping at the bit.
The wideman slalomed inside a couple of defenders before dragging his shot wide.
Ntcham had got away with a few late ones but the yellow card was in the post. It finally arrived midway through the first half when he hauled back Edwards.
Celtic were not being allowed an inch. The Buddies were far from friendly, charging into challenges and at one point leaving Scott Brown in a Paisley sandwich.
Ntcham had room to swing a hula hoop against Rangers in the Old Firm win but last night there was barely space inside his shirt the Buddies were so touch tight.
It wasn’t all hustle and bustle though. There was quality as well. The ball was worked into the box before Gordon was forced to shovel Smith’s cross behind.
On-loan Rangers defender Hodson then pounced on a loose clearance and blasted wide from 20 yards, with his low stinger taking a nick off a defender.
Celtic were only threatening occasionally. Dedryck Boyata’s header was cleared off the line but Rodgers was about to see one of his key men disappear up the tunnel.
Ntcham had been fortunate to survive 38 minutes and there was no getting out of his second yellow after he gifted Paul McGinn the ball then dived in.
Rodgers wasn’t too chuffed but managed to get his side in at the break to perform some running repairs.
He can be pretty nifty with his side when down to 10 and Rodgers shuffled to four at the back, the same in midfield with Odsonne Edouard up top.
Instead of sitting back Celtic went on the attack. Tom Rogic struggled to get a sniff in the first half but began to demand more of the ball, even if he usually had two Saints snapping at his heels.
The trouble for Celts was the Paisley men wouldn’t let them build from the back either. And any chance the likes of Smith got to counter it caused the Hoops problems. Flynn was also popping up in dangerous areas and he twisted and turned in the box then looked set to tee up a team-mate before being crowded out.
Benkovic had made a solid enough debut but made way for Leigh Griffiths as Rodgers went into his own box of tricks.
The hitman’s corner moments later dropped to Kris Ajer but Jack Baird heroically hurled himself in the ball’s path. The 10 men turned the screw and Griffiths blasted over the top with his right foot after Forrest had delivered a great cutback. Callum McGregor and Boyata went close in a final charge and Griffiths fired home only to be flagged offside. But even Houdini couldn’t have got out of the Saints’ defensive chains.