NOTHING NOTHING TO SHOUT ABOUT
Goodwin’s patchwork side frustrate toothless Hoops
ST MIRREN spent two days begging the Scrooge SPFL bosses to give them the night off but the knockback turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the Covidhit Buddies.
It was Celtic left wishing the game hadn’t gone ahead after suffering a nightmare before Christmas.
We live in strange times but this was a twist no one saw could have seen coming.
St Mirren, robbed of 11 players due to the virus, were forced to draft in teenagers after being ordered to get on with it.
Yet here they were, heroically holding Celtic to a damaging draw just days after the Hoops had lifted the Premier Sports Cup.
Hours before, Parkhead chiefs got their wish for the winter break to be brought forward. Not forward enough it seems.
Celtic had injury issues of their own but they still should have had enough despite star turns sitting out.
The Old Firm can might have been kicked down the road but ground was lost when the gap was meant to be closed.
Instead they spent the night huffing and puffing against a Buddies side who brilliantly kept their shape and knocked their pans in to secure a Christmas bonus point.
There’s no doubt Saints were savaged but boss Jim Goodwin didn’t quite have to pull punters out of the stands and see if they could fit into pairs of medium shorts.
He still had a recognisable back five and Curtis Main up front, but there were a ton of kids filling in the gaps, including 17-year-old Richard Offord.
The Buddies’ woes pretty much put Celtic’s own injury gripes into firm perspective.
Ange Postecoglou had 11 men out – including keeper Joe Hart – but could still boast internationals on his bench.
There was no Kyogo after his Premier Sports Cup Final heroics, and no Jota, David Turnbull, James Forrest or suspended Carl Starfelt.
But it allowed starts for Liam Scales and a run out for youngster Owen Moffat and the likes of Greg Taylor and Josip Juranovic were still in reserve if needed.
St Mirren’s back-ups are all still counting sleeps until Santa arrives with Goodwin forced to raid the club’s Under-18 squad to make up the numbers.
The kids on the pitch had to learn on the job and hang tough when Celts looked to get off to a flying start. Mikey Johnston nearly achieved it with a brilliant burst into the box, with his quick feet taking out three defenders on the way before his drilled drive was diverted wide by keeper Dean Lyness.
The keeper produced an even better save moments later when he hurled himself across his goal to claw away a swerving Nir Bitton free-kick. It was to be some
0
shift for the back- up goalie on the evening.
The chances piled up along with the pressure and the opportunities came thick and fast.
Lyness kept out Anthony Ralston’s effort after Scales’ shot was deflected for a corner.
The keeper also kept out Bitton’s attempt from the edge of the box after Liel Abada had ballooned an effort over the top but Saints were toughing it out. They were camped in their own half and had 11 men behind the ball, but they were not content to let Celtic just turn up and do their party pieces before leaving with the points.
It was extremely hard for them to get out though.
The ball wasn’t even getting to the first man, never mind up to Main to hold up.
Celtic’s constant pressing kept the Buddies in their own version of lockdown and there was barely any room to get some fresh air.
The Paisley side were a tad lucky not to be even more hampered when
Scott Tanser dived in on McGregor, but he might have got off the hook as his earlier yellow card looked pretty harsh.
Tanser and Saints survived the opening half an hour then gave Celts a bit of grief before the break.
Jay Henderson skinned Stephen Welsh to get the Hoops defender booked and Main began throwing his weight around.
He causing a minor flap when he was in the crowd at a corner, as Scott Bain got in a bit of a tangle before Joe Shaughnessy nodded wide.
It was back to Celtic searching for a way through after the interval.
Johnston had another sight at goal when Ralston’s cross was cleared into his path but he sent his volley right down the barrel at a relieved Lyness.
The Hoops were starting to get a tad tetchy.
Moffat slashed one wide, Rogic couldn’t connect and Abada went up a couple of blind alleys.
Postecoglou’s men were hogging the ball but struggling to carve out cast iron chances.
And when they did get a look, too often the opportunities were grasped at like a kid ripping off Christmas wrapping paper.
Even captain McGregor was guilty when he thrashed a decent chance high into the stands.
Johnston did likewise when yet another chance came his way.
St Mirren seemed happy enough to sit tight and leave Celtic to it.
Even when the ball was out of play they forced Hoops players to do the running to get it back.
Postecoglou chucked on Juranovic to help with the push for an opener as time ticked on. He immediately worked a ball inside for McGregor to force another good Lyness save with a low curler from 20 yards.
The heroics kept coming as the keeper stuck out a leg to divert
Johnston’s dig at the back post which looked destined for the back of the net.
Moments later Abada just couldn’t get on the end of Johnston’s cross but in between times it was Saints who nearly pounced when Henderson shot free on the break and teed up Main, but he leathered straight at Bain.
Celts were getting desperate as Juranovic’s free-kick whistled just past the post.
The frantic chase continued but it was determined Saints who were determined to be miserly at the back.