Interim manager Martin O'Neill has issued a passionate plea for unity at Celtic after his side secured a dramatic late victory against St Mirren, despite ongoing anti-board protests from travelling supporters.
Last-Gasp Winner Saves Celtic Blushes
Callum McGregor emerged as Celtic's hero with an outstanding long-range strike deep into stoppage time, securing a crucial three points that closed the gap to Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts to just four points. The victory marked O'Neill's third league win since taking temporary charge, though the manager admitted his team were fortunate to emerge victorious from the tense encounter in Paisley.
The Celtic skipper let fly with his decisive effort from distance with mere seconds remaining on the clock, transforming what appeared certain to be a frustrating draw into a valuable away win. The result puts pressure on Hearts ahead of their trip to Aberdeen later today.
O'Neill's Concerns Over Fan Unrest
Throughout the match, Celtic supporters made their displeasure with the club's hierarchy clear with further displays of red cards and audible protests. When questioned about whether this ongoing unrest was affecting performances on the pitch, O'Neill offered a thoughtful response.
"That's a good point," O'Neill acknowledged. "I probably don't think so but I'm not sure. I think there's perhaps just an element that... I'm not saying it's going to affect Daizen Maeda, who probably wouldn't know what 'sack the board' is, but I don't think it'll help."
The interim manager expressed particular concern about the need for renewed unity, invoking the legacy of legendary manager Jock Stein. "They paid their money, they came here tonight," O'Neill said of the travelling fans. "And obviously the scenes at the end were terrific. We just need some sort of unification again. I know I made the point about Jock Stein. He built the football club on unification. Fans and players and team and everybody else going in the same way."
Performance Concerns Despite Victory
While delighted with the result, O'Neill was far from impressed with his team's overall display. He identified ball retention as a particular area of concern that nearly cost his side valuable points.
"The frustration was the fact that we never dealt properly with the ball," O'Neill analysed. "When we were in decent possession, we gave it away cheaply. We got a bit more momentum going in the second half, but still, we were just cheap at giving the ball away."
The manager conceded that a draw would have been a fair result, stating: "The game was obviously heading for a draw. I'm not so sure that we deserved any more than that."
St Mirren's Controversial Offside Decision
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson felt aggrieved by a key first-half decision that went against his team. Conor McMenamin was flagged for offside when Liam Scales got the final touch to divert the ball into his own net, with the officials ruling that McMenamin was interfering with play.
"Liam doesn't see Conor," Robinson argued. "He's marking Jonah Ayunga and looking at him. So it's a subjective decision, isn't it? It's not a factual offside decision. If Conor scores then it's a factual decision."
The Saints boss expressed frustration with what he perceived as inconsistent officiating, noting: "That's four goals in four games now. We've had lines drawn in the wrong place and it's been described that they got lucky. We also had a goal against Dundee United, a free-kick given by a linesman 44 yards away."
Robinson suggested that smaller clubs face disadvantages in such situations, remarking: "I'm not a big enough voice in Scottish football and don't have a fanbase behind me of 50,000 people to change it."
Despite the victory moving Celtic closer to the summit of the Scottish Premiership, O'Neill's call for unity underscores the ongoing tensions at the club as they seek to maintain their title challenge amid internal discord.
