Rodgers throws down title gauntlet after Celtic victory
Brendan Rodgers resisted the temptation to say “Over to you, Rangers” after this blustery win wrapped up the pre-split campaign but the inference was clear.
Held at half time, the Hoops stayed patient to finish the day four points clear of their city rivals.
“We are where we want to be. It’s in our hands – I’d rather be the team with points in the bag at the top,” the Bhoys boss said.
“We’re in a really good position and when you know that everything is with you – and you can decide what your destiny is – that’s what you want.
“There are five games to go with trophies at stake. There’s a Scottish Cup at stake, so bring it on.”
The manager has not had his problems to seek and here he watched on as Maik Nawrocki – in for the injured Liam Scales – quite literally flung himself into the action.
He and Toyosi Olusanya went up to contest a high ball with the St Mirren man flattened in the challenge.
While the striker was able to return to action after a minute or two, his teammate, Elvis Bwomono, was not so fortunate when he came out worst in a clash of heads with Yang.
Having initially attempted to carry on, the Ugandan had to be substituted when pulling up with Ryan Strain sent on in his place.
The first half was not much to write home about, a combination of the swirling wind and poor delivery seeing a succession of moves break down before they amounted to anything.
When there was an opening, the opposition snuffed it out with Alex Gogic carded for taking down Kyogo Furuhashi. Ref Steven Mclean was less minded to take action meanwhile when Reo Hatate tumbled under a challenge from Marcus Fraser in the Saints penalty box.
Rodgers resisted the temptation to make a half-time change. Instead, it was the away side who switched things up a bit with Scott Tanser making way for Jaden Brown.
Barely had he settled into it than another change was enforced on St Mirren manager Steven Robinson with an injury to Greg Kiltie prompting the introduction of Lewis Jamieson.
Celtic rewarded Rodgers’ faith in sticking with the starters by grabbing the early breakthrough they craved.
Alistair Johnston rolled a pass into the box to Hatate who used the outside of his foot to curl a lovely shot round Zach Hemming and into the net.
As is so often the way in these situations, the arrival of the longawaited first ushered a rapid second.
Again, Johnston provided the assist, curling in a fine cross from the right which Kyogo Furuhashi gleefully headed home.
St Mirren’s defenders looked around in vain for an answer as to how the Japanese had evaded his marker, but it mattered little. The horse had bolted.
If proof were needed of that fact, it cantered along in the 72nd minute in the shape of Celtic’s quadruple
substitutions. Each of the four men brought on – Callum Mcgregor, Paulo Bernardo, Luis Palma and Adam Idah – have already contributed key goals in the Hoops’ campaign so far and will likely be needed again in the weeks ahead.
Bwomono’s early exit granted both St Mirren and Celtic the opportunity to use a concussion sub if they wanted and Rodgers grabbed it to send James Forrest on for a run.
The veteran winger got a celebration to join in when Idah darted in to head home after Hemming had saved from Matt O’riley.
If the scale of the turnaround was rough on the visitors, Robinson remained philosophical. He said: “We were excellent for 45 minutes and then we can get undone by two excellent goals. Kyogo’s movement for the second goal was fantastic and the delivery as well.
“And the first goal was a super finish. That’s the difference in levels.
“Ultimately, I’m really proud of the players.”