Celtic loss is bad for boss
Scottish Round-Up
NEIL LENNON vowed to fight on as CELTIC boss after ST MIRREN claimed a first win at Celtic Park in 31 years.
Celtic’s latest sobering setback following this 2-1 defeat leaves them 23 points behind runaway leaders Rangers.
Lennon’s men have two games in hand on their Old Firm rivals but their season continues to unravel at an alarming rate.
And this latest blow only piles the pressure further on under-fire Celtic boss Lennon.
Lennon said: “It was a poor performance, a poor result. We expect to build a crescendo of pressure and break teams down but that’s been missing this season.
“The lack of belief and lack of quality – it’s not just individuals, it’s a collective, and it’s symptomatic of the season.
“It’s a low point in terms of the performance and the result – but I’ll keep working away trying my best.”
St Mirren’s previous league win in this fixture – a 4-0 trouncing in Paisley in 2012 – spelt the end for
Hoops manager Tony Mowbray.
A first away win at Celtic since 1990 also leaves Lennon vulnerable.
Kristian Dennis struck the opener when he combined with Dylan Connolly to crash an 18th minute shot beyond Scott Bain.
Odsonne Edouard had soon hauled Celtic level with a scuffed finish into the far corner.
But an error from Shane Duffy saw Ilkay Durmus net five minutes later which proved the winner as a laboured Celtic ran out of ideas.
St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin said: “We really fancied ourselves coming here. And we deserved the win.
“It certainly wasn’t a case of Jak Alnwick making a number of great saves in goal.”
Elsewhere, ABERDEEN remain third after they were held to a goalless draw at LIVINGSTON.
Livi extended their unbeaten run to 13 games but honours ended even in a bore draw.
HIBERNIAN narrowed the gap on Aberdeen to a point with a 2-0 win at DUNDEE UNITED.