De Zerbi named as Brighton manager
(left)
The biggest absentees were the American and Jota. The American out completely and the Portuguese on the bench.
Scott Tanser in for Richard Tait was Robinson’s only alteration from the previous game and they took the sting out of it while holding threat on the break, as O’Hara’s opener would demonstrate.
Didn’t allow Celtic to take quick free-kicks and throwins and maintained a solidity which the Premiership pacesetters could not breach.
Too often, Celtic found bodies in the way and their situation got much worse just before half-time.
Due to a strange sign-off prior to the game, the kits were remarkably similar and there was little between them on the park at that stage. Then O’Hara made his mark.
Having held firm, Saints grasped their first opportunity in away territory and took it after Keanu Baccus released countryman Strain to produce a sublime ball into danger.
Clear
O’Hara arrived clear of Mooy with pace and purpose to meet the back-post delivery and Joe Hart had little chance of keeping out the powerful header.
Abada’s off target header and overhead kick were token responses before the restart where Postecoglou went straight to Jota and Reo Hatate
MARK O’HARA reckons sensational St Mirren gave Celtic a rapid taste of their own medicine.
And the Paisley ace says his team have sent a message to the rest of the Premiership that Ange Postecoglou’s juggernaut can be halted.
The 26-year-old scored a brilliant opener with a powerful header before Jonah Ayunga sealed a deserved victory for Saints.
It was the Buddies’ first victory over Celtic on home soil for 12 years.
And O’Hara said: “I don’t know whether it was because it was in front of the cameras or because it was an early kick-off, but usually Celtic are the ones coming out fast and blowing teams away.
“But we were matching them in those early stages.
“It gives you confidence you can get something from the match. You need to match them in the opening stages. They can blow teams away in the first half of matches and they didn’t do that to us in this game.
“That gave us something to hold onto and to try and get the three points.
“From the very first minute, everyone was on it.
“There was a real feeling we could do something and, as the game went on, we were solid at the back and that was the main thing.” for Mooy and Maeda.
The plan was to hit straight back. Instead, he was left stunned as Robinson’s high flyers moved further clear.
Curtis Main rose high in the box to keep the play alive after a long throw and Ayunga had a simple task to stoop and nod beyond Hart to double the lead.
Although Hatate shot deflected into the gloves of Trevor Carson, it really should have been three when O’Hara met another Strain cross bang in front of the target.
This time, unlike for his opener, the raiding midfielder just couldn’t get the direction correct and glanced wide.
Moritz Jenz saw a header grabbed under the bar by
Stages
Celtic’s defeat was their first in the Premiership for 364 days and O’Hara says it offers proof to the rest of the top flight they can be outdone.
He added: “I think so, definitely. You have to go out and play your own game and teams probably don’t do that at times against Celtic.”
Carson. The keeper was also in the right place to stop another effort from sub Giorgios Giamkoumakis and a Taylor drive from the edge of the box.
Nonetheless, as had been the case in the hour previously, there was just no thrust.
Postecoglou’s team off colour. Robinson’s boys in control and impenetrable.
BRIGHTON have appointed Roberto De Zerbi as head coach on a four-year contract.
The 43-year-old former Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk boss agreed contractual terms — subject to work permit — yesterday afternoon on a deal to succeed Graham Potter, who departed for Chelsea this month.
De Zerbi met with club owner Tony Bloom, chief executive Paul Barber and technical director David Weir in London last week and flew into Sussex on Friday before watching a behindclosed-doors friendly at the Amex Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
De Zerbi will not be formally introduced to the media until tomorrow afternoon.
Bloom said:
“Roberto’s teams play an exciting and courageous brand of football, and I am confident his style and tactical approach will suit our existing squad superbly.”
Ability
Weir said: “Roberto has shown his undoubted ability with his work in Italy and Ukraine, and what he achieved at Sassuolo certainly stands out.
“In his short spell with Shakhtar he enjoyed further success, leading the club to cup success and topping the Ukrainian league before the war brought an abrupt halt to his time there.
“We are delighted to welcome Roberto and we look forward to introducing him to our squad as well as providing all the support he needs to introduce his coaching philosophy and help the players continue their brilliant start to the season.”
Barber, who is also deputy chairman, said: “We looked at a range of excellent candidates but Roberto was our number one choice from the start and the only person we spoke to.
“We feel Roberto is the ideal cultural and technical fit for Brighton & Hove Albion, and the right person to continue the club’s progress and work with this outstanding group of players.”