MIRREN MATCHES AS THEY WERE REPORTED AT THE TIME Buddies go down fighting
Lennon’s wish for a miracle fails to be granted
what they were capable of going forward, but McGinn and Wylde did seem to have a good understanding about the task at hand.
Winger Wylde at least forced a save from Fraser Foster, taking McGinn’s long precision pass from a Celtic corner and beating Fisher for pace down the left channel.
After 36 minutes, McGregor was penalised for a foul on Stokes and Celtic won a free-kick 30 yards out.
It was played short to Mulgrew from Forrest but when it eventually found van Dijk in the box, the towering Dutchman scooped an effort harmlessly wide.
Before the break, Stephan Johansen picked up a forward pass from Brown, skipped a couple of challenges, before sending a low drive well wide of the left hand post.
Midfielder McGinn won a free-kick, at the expense of Ambrose 30 yards out, and at last the visitors had the chance to work Forster in goal.
Goodwin played it in, van Dijk headed it clear but the far side flag was raised and a decent chance was squandered.
At the other end, keeper Kello got a strong hand to a low effort from Forrest, as the Hoops threatened to extend their slender lead. Striker Stokes latched on to a Mulgrew pass before he angled a rightfoot shot just wide of the far post.
Celtic stepped up their intensity and Ambrose scooped a left-footed effort from 14 yards just over target.
Left-back Kelly picked the pocket of Forrest, though, before unleashing a low shot from distance that fell well wide of the mark.
Van Dijk had to look lively to deny Thompson a shot on goal after the striker got beyond Forster and only had to tuck the ball into the net.
Kello had to take a McAusland
Match Facts
Score Celtic 1 St Mirren 0
Scorers Commons (6)
Bookings No-one
Red Carded No-one
Referee Alan Muir
Teams Celtic (4-4-2): Forster, Izaguirre, Ambrose, van Dijk, Brown, Stokes, Commons (Balde 78), Mulgrew, Johansen, Fisher, Forrest (Boerrigter 69). Subs not used: Zaluska, Biton, Samaras, Pukki, O’Connell.
St Mirren (4-2-3-1): Kello, Naismith, McAusland, Newton, Kelly, Wylde, McGregor, McGinn, Thompson (McLean 70), Magennis, Goodwin (Campbell 82). Subs not used- Dilo, van Zanten, Reilly, Brady, Morgan. deflection right on his goalline after Johansen, Izaguirre and Mulgrew worked an opening on the left-hand side.
Towards the hour mark, Magennis worked Forster, his shot at goal saved by the Englishman down at his left-hand side.
Then Forrest stabbed a shot inches wide after good work from Stokes and Mulgrew.
Saints midfielder Kenny McLean, back again after knee surgery, replaced
Thompson with 20 minutes remaining.
Campbell came on for Goodwin in the latter stages as Saints sought to nick something from the East End, before substitute Amido Balde slashed a low shot wide from the edge of the box.
Stokes squandered a gilt edged chance, latching on to a Kelly mistake in midfield, before rounding keeper Kello and misfiring, with the goal at his mercy.