Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
HELL AND MIRREN
Saints pile the misery on boss Lennon as Celts’ horror season continues at Parkhead
HE survived the early Euro exits and the Betfred Cup humiliation at the hands of Ross County.
And up until now he has survived a 23-point deficit to Rangers at the top of the league.
But after Celtic lost to St Mirren at Parkhead yesterday for the first time in 31 YEARS, even the indestructible Neil Lennon might not survive this.
His team were abject against the Buddies, going down to goals from Kristian Dennis and Ilkay Durmus in the first half. The fact they lost it after getting themselves back level, through Odsonne Edouard, makes it worse.
St Mirren were outstanding to a man.
Jim Goodwin set his side up superbly and they were well worthy of a historic victory.
But with Celtic where they are in the league and with their manager under pressure, this Hoops display was unforgivable.
With chief executive Peter Lawwell announcing his retirement at the end of the season, will he be forced into a big decision before then? Certainly, if Lennon’s position was precarious before yesterday, he’s now clinging on.
It’s a sign of how far Celtic have fallen that teams are now opting to rest players at Parkhead. Livingston did it a few weeks ago before earning a point and Saints did likewise.
While Lennon stuck with the same team that beat Hamilton in midweek, Goodwin could afford to replace four of his stars from a 5-1 demolition of Dundee United at Tannadice.
For the first 10 minutes, the home side looked sharp and at it.
But once Saints got comfortable in their shape, they were a threat going forward against a fragile backline.
The Paisley side had already had a few pot shots from distance before taking the lead. A terrific move down the right flank saw Dylan Connolly pick out Dennis with a clever cut-back and the striker took a touch before rifling past Scott Bain.
Celtic’s keeper of choice at the moment will feel he should have done better but it was a brilliantly worked goal from Saints.
It was too easy for them to get in. Nir Bitton had started the game poorly at the back for Celtic and his sidekick Shane Duffy wasn’t much better.
Callum McGregor was the one player who looked capable of creating something for the home side.
And it was the skipper’s driving run from the middle of the park that helped carve out an equaliser. He burst into the box, picked out Edouard with a crisp pass and the Frenchman’s first touch was impeccable.
He had barely looked interested but his scuffed shot into the ground was too good for Jak Alnwick who couldn’t stop it nestling in the far corner.
At 1-1, you felt Celtic would surely take control of the game.
But this is a very different Hoops side this season. Instead, before the break they hit the self-destruct button again to go 2-1 down.
Kyle McAllister was allowed to whip a ball in for Turkish winger Durmus who had drifted infield.
His first touch was just superb – wrong-footing the static Duffy – and he turned before slotting home St Mirren’s second.