Late McGregor Magic Seals Victory for Celtic
In a dramatic finish at the SMISA Stadium, Celtic captain Callum McGregor unleashed an unstoppable 93rd-minute winner to secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory over St Mirren. The stunning strike deep into injury time maintained interim manager Martin O'Neill's perfect Premiership record since returning to the club.
O'Neill's Steadying Influence
The victory marks Celtic's third consecutive league win under the 73-year-old Northern Irishman, who answered Dermot Desmond's emergency call following Brendan Rodgers' departure last month. When Rodgers left after what was described as a "pitiful display at Tynecastle," Celtic trailed by nine points in the title race. Now, following this dramatic win in Paisley, they sit just four points off the pace ahead of Hearts' trip to Pittodrie.
O'Neill's achievement becomes even more remarkable considering the challenging circumstances. The interim boss has had to navigate significant off-field unrest at Celtic Park, which culminated in a chaotic annual general meeting just days before this match. Additionally, he's been dealing with an extensive injury list that has deprived him of key players including Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alistair Johnston, and James Forrest.
Match of Few Clear Chances
The game itself was a tense affair, with St Mirren making a "full-throttle start" that pinned Celtic back in the early stages. The home side created the better opportunities in the first half, with Conor McMenamin going close twice and Miguel Freckleton flashing a fierce strike just wide of the post.
Celtic struggled to create meaningful chances, with Johnny Kenny "starved of any meaningful service" in the first half. O'Neill made changes at the break, introducing Luke McCowan and moving Daizen Maeda through the middle, which provided some improvement though the visitors never truly controlled the contest.
St Mirren's energy and commitment to pressing remained remarkable throughout, with Stephen Robinson's side organized and disciplined. The game appeared to be heading for a goalless draw until McGregor's moment of magic in the dying seconds.
Significance of the Result
This victory represents more than just three points for Celtic. At the end of what O'Neill described as "a difficult few days" for the club, the manner of the win—secured so late against a determined opponent—provides a significant morale boost.
For St Mirren, the "agonising fashion" of the defeat leaves them with just one point from their last six matches, raising concerns about their ability to challenge for a top-six finish for the fourth successive season.
While O'Neill is likely to still be in charge for Sunday's match at Easter Road, he's expected to be "well gone by the time the campaign goes down the home straight." However, his steadying influence during these trying times—and McGregor's astonishing winner—won't be soon forgotten by the Celtic faithful.
