Match Pictures | Matches: 2025 – 2026
Trivia
- KO: 20:00; Saturday, Sky Sports TV
- First Saturday night 8pm kick-off for Celtic
- Celtic second on 26pts after 12 games 4pts behind Hearts (both played 12 games) but Hearts play next day; Sevco have very dubious 2-1 win with Inverness not getting a blatant penalty due to VAR which stumped everyone!
- Post-Note: hearts lose their first league game the next day 1-0 v Aberdeen, and Celtic have game in hand if Celtic win it go only 1pt behind.
- Back after internationals.
- Scotland reach the World Cup finals with 4-2 win over Denmark (which included Celtic keeper Schmeichel) with the decisive goal goal scored by Tierney in injury time. Scotland had messed up v Greece 3-2.
- Liam Scales drew praise from Republic of Ireland supporters after the he set up the opener in Thursday’s 2-0 win over Portugal. He then sets up the vital injury time winner for Ireland v Hungary in 3-2 win winning a play-off spot!
- Raith Rovers sacked manager Barry Robson (ex-Celt) after 4 defeats from past 6 league games.
- AGM: Celtic’s annual meeting was abandoned when shareholders jeered director Ross Desmond for accusing some fans of being “bullies”.
- Jay Lefevre, Celtic’s head of scouting, agreed a move to Swansea. The meeting at Celtic Park had earlier been adjourned for half-an-hour by chairman Peter Lawwell less than five minutes after it started following chants of “sack the board” by some shareholders. But it was ultimately called to a halt after an hour “because of disruption” as Desmond read out a statement on behalf of himself and his father, Dermot, the club’s major shareholder, who did not attend.
- Colby Donovan left the field on a stretcher as Scotland Under-21s beat Gibraltar on Saturday.
- bhas not ruled out leaving Celtic on loan as he continues to find himself second choice to veteran Kasper Schmeichel.
- Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney will continue taking the Celtic team on an interim basis as rumours work permit issues hold up the arrival of our new man. MON is an experienced manager to get something extra out of a threadbare squad very light on quality.
- Celtic release notice about Green Brigade etc.
- Martin O’Neill reveals that defender Cameron Carter-Vickers is gloomy about his chances of making next year’s World Cup for host nation USA as he faces a long recovery from an Achilles injury. Reports stating likely out for rest of the season!
- Ex-Celt Darren O’Dea now the interim manager at Swansea.
- Celtic’s second-largest shareholder, Lindsell Train Limited, has reduced its stake in the club once again before the club’s annual meeting o
- Reports:
- Celtic reported to have been holding talks in London with various targets.
- Columbus Crew boss Wilfried Nancy is on the Celtic managerial shortlist, along with Bodo/Glimt’s Kjetil Knutsen and Kieran McKenna of Ipswich Town. Reports over the period appear to put Nancy fully as the prime candidate, albeit Knutsen is the favourite choice for many.
- Former Steven Caldwell believes Celtic will be getting one of the best coaches in Major League Soccer if they appoint Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy but describes the potential move as “a big jump”.
- Nancy could look to bring Crew striker Diego Rossi, 27, to Celtic.
- Brendan Rodgers is being courted by Saudi Pro League clubs.
- Liverpool and Scotland left-back Andy Robertson will leave Anfield when his contract expires next summer and has reportedly held talks with Celtic.
- Celtic coach Mark Fotheringham is mentioned in connection with the managerial vacancy at Norwich City.
- Celtic have joined Sunderland in monitoring midfielder Hossam Essadak, who captained Morocco to the Under-20 World Cup title last month.
- Lennon Miller to Celtic rumours starting again after missing out last summer and little gametime in Italy.
- Sebastian Tounekti has withdrawn from the Tunisia squad before their trio of upcoming friendly matches.
- Kasper Schmeichel to hold talks in Feb about a new contract.
- Daizen Maeda has informed Celtic of his desire to depart in the January transfer window, with Brentford, Everton, Leeds United, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers reported to be interested.
- Celtic could be in line for a sell-on fee in January for Kristoffer Ajer, with Wolfsburg linked with interest in the Brentford centre-half.
- Everton will target Celtic and Japan forward Daizen Maeda in January.
- Music: Stone Roses’ Mani has passed away, RIP.
Summary
“The club needs to be united,” says Celtic captain Callum McGregor as protests from fans against the board continued during yesterday’s win at St Mirren. “It needs to be everyone together, pushing forward, it’s been built on massive success and unity.”
McGregor post-match
Joebloggscity of TheCelticWiki:
Scotland has been celebrating all week after what was an incredible victory over Denmark in midweek that took Scotland to the World Cup for the first time since 1998. On the other hand, Celtic have returned to norm with first the aborted AGM after anti-board factions caused protests during the meeting capped by a very reactionary commentary by Dermot Desmond’s son leading to further widening of the gulf between the support & the board. However, in truth there are plenty of supporters angry with elements of the more zealous sections of the support, and incredibly created some sympathy for the board. Any incoming manager would find this to be a toxic environment to come into, and not an attractive one.
To make matters worse, further long-term injuries to Osmand, Johnstone, CCV etc have further compounded the demands on already hard-hit squad.
So that was the atmosphere coming into this game, and after some decent results of late under interim manager Martin O’Neill, it shouldn’t have been a surprise that Celtic would slump back to a performance as poor as the worst under Brendan Rodgers this season. St Mirren should feel hard done by in terms of luck as they had the better opportunties to win the game. An own-goal by Scales seemed to seal the game for them, but it was thankfully ruled offside (correctly) for a St Mirren player involvement. It didn’t really spark enough momentum into Celtic, but somehow Callum McGregor with practically the last kick of the match scored a long range drive to give Celtic an admittedly undeserved three points.
A lot of relief, but really Celtic can’t live on this for the rest of the season. The weaknesses of the squad & the low morale are clearly going to lose Celtic further points, and really the dead cat bounce from Martin O’Neill’s entry is now over.
Inside The SPFL @AgentScotland · 9h I don’t buy the notion that this will be some kind of pivotal moment in the season for Celtic, it’s been said everytime they’ve scored an injury time winner this season, and nothing changes, that’s not to say they won’t be successful but this season will be a slog right up to May. Celtic have only been in the lead against St Mirren for two minutes in their last three meetings, and won seven points. That was a first half performance that mirrored the club in general at the moment, apathetic.
ConnecticutCelt @glasgowbhoy24.bsky.social · 9h A game to forget apart from that moment of sheer magic from CalMac. The team is not showing any real quality during 90 mins and we can’t rely on isolated bursts of quality to get us through the season
Andy Muirhead @andymuirhd.bsky.social · 9h 1. We were [poor] 2. No controversial decisions in game for either side. 3. Stunning goal from McGregor 4. Robinson will be kicking himself bringing that sub on to waste time 5. The huns are raging 6. All three points. 4 points behind Hearts who play Aberdeen tomorrow but played a game more
E-Tims @ETimsNet · 10h Probably as bad as we’ve played all season….didn’t deserve to win….we were truly appalling…but….we won! What an incredible goal from Calmac.
Teams
Celtic
Manager: Martin O’Neill
Formation: 4 – 3 – 3
01 K. Schmeichel
63 K. Tierney, subbed for D. Murray at 72mins
05 L. Scales
06 A. Trusty
56 A. Ralston, subbed for B. Nygren at 72mins
41 R. Hatate
42 C. McGregor (c), Captain
27 A. Engels, subbed for C. Donovan at 85mins
23 S. Tounekti 41′, Yellow Card at 41mins, subbed for Yang Hyun-Jun at 67mins
24 J. Kenny, subbed for L. McCowan at 46mins
38 D. Maeda
Subs:
10 M. Balikwisha
51 C. Donovan
28 Paulo Bernardo
14 L. McCowan
47 D. Murray
08 B. Nygren
12 V. Sinisalo
18 S. Yamada
13 Yang Hyun-Jun
Goals:
C. McGregor (90’+5)
Assists:
C. Donovan (90’+5)
St Mirren
Formation: 3 – 5 – 2
01 S. George
21 M. Freckleton
13 A. Gogić 76′, Yellow Card at 76mins
22 M. Fraser (c), Captain19′, Yellow Card at 19mins
24 D. John
10 C. McMenamin, subbed for F. Taylor at 81mins
25 K. Baccus, subbed for L. Donnelly at 93mins
88 K. Phillips
02 J. Richardson, subbed for R. King at 82mins
14 D. Nlundulu, subbed for J. Ayunga at 67mins
09 M. Mandron
Subs:
11 J. Ayunga
18 M. Dijksteel
04 L. Donnelly
07 R. Idowu
05 R. King
33 E. Mooney
19 T. Sobowale
35 G. Tamosevicius
30 F. Taylor
Goals:
Assists:
Referee Kevin Clancy
Video Assistant Referee Matthew MacDermid
Assistant Referee 1 David Roome
Assistant Referee 2 Ross Nelson
Fourth Official Graham Grainger
Assistant VAR Official Sean Carr
Venue:The SMISA Stadium
Attendance:6,840
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
- Prior
- Match
- Post
- MoTM
Stats
Basic Stats
Overall possession
St. Mirren 27.3% Celtic 72.7%
Shots
St. Mirren 13 Celtic 16
Shots on target
St. Mirren 2 Celtic 2
Total touches inside the opposition box
St. Mirren 22 Celtic 28
Goalkeeper saves
St. Mirren 1 Celtic 2
Aerial duels won
St. Mirren 13 Celtic 10
Fouls committed
St. Mirren 10 Celtic 8
Fouls committed
Corners
St. Mirren 2 Celtic 4
In-depth match stats
Attack
Shots
St. Mirren 13 Celtic 16
Shots on target
St. Mirren 2 Celtic 2
Shots off target
St. Mirren 5 Celtic 4
Attempts out of box
St. Mirren 4 Celtic 7
Hit woodwork
St. Mirren 1 Celtic 0
Total offsides
St. Mirren 2 Celtic 2
Distribution
Total passes
St. Mirren 247 Celtic 685
Pass accuracy %
St. Mirren 67.2 Celtic 88.3
Backward passes
St. Mirren 43 Celtic 122
Forward passes
St. Mirren 124 Celtic 189
Total long balls
St. Mirren 60 Celtic 49
Total long balls
Successful final third passes
St. Mirren 46 Celtic 117
Total crosses
St. Mirren 15 Celtic 18
Defence
Total tackles
St. Mirren 14 Celtic 8
Won tackle %
St. Mirren 64.3 Celtic 87.5
Fouls committed
St. Mirren 10 Celtic 8
Total yellow cards
St. Mirren 2 Celtic 1
Total clearances
St. Mirren 21 Celtic 19
Articles
BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cr7mgvxvd0nt#Report
At a glance
McGregor strikes in injury-time to earn Celtic win
Defending champions within four points of Hearts
St Mirren spurn chances & have goal disallowed
Watch highlights of St Mirren v Celtic
22/11/25
Watch on iPlayer
ByGeorge O’Neill
BBC Sport Scotland
Callum McGregor’s stunning injury-time strike earned Celtic a dramatic last-gasp win over St Mirren in Paisley and moved them to within four points of Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts.
The captain picked the ball up 30 yards from goal in the 95th minute, shifting it onto his left foot before firing a rocket into the top corner beyond the despairing dive of St Mirren goalkeeper Shamal George.
It was a hammer blow for St Mirren, who had the better of the chances and delivered a performance that deserved at least a point.
Conor McMenamin slid just wide from close range early on and struck a post in the first half. The Northern Irish winger was also penalised for offside after the break when Celtic defender Liam Scales turned through his own goal.
Celtic struggled to make any meaningful attacking inroads against their well-drilled hosts, only having two shots on target – both in second-half injury time.
However, McGregor stood up when his team needed him and used his celebrations to try and cajole the Celtic fans to back the team amid unrest at the club.
St Mirren had chances of their own to win it late on, as Declan John fired straight at Kasper Schmeichel and Mikael Mandron’s effort went wide.
Stephen Robinson’s side stay ninth, though, and will lock horns with Celtic again at Hampden in the Premier Sports Cup final on 14 December.
O’Neill calls for Celtic ‘unification’ – but is fan unrest affecting team?
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6 hours ago
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Analysis: McGregor magic doesn’t dampen fan protests
One day on from Celtic’s AGM being abandoned “because of disruption” – an event interim boss Martin O’Neill described as “sad” – the away end in Paisley again expressed their discontent with the club’s leadership.
Loud chants of “sack the board” rang out inside the first minute and again after McGregor’s goal.
That dissatisfaction stems from a perceived malaise, a collective belief that Celtic have regressed since they were eliminated from last season’s Champions League by Bayern Munich. It is an impasse which has no obvious conclusion.
However, the late goal could prove to be a big moment in Celtic’s season – it keeps them in touch with Hearts at the top and provides a boost before a hectic run of fixtures between now and the new year – 10 matches in 38 days.
Still, the eventual successor to O’Neill and Brendan Rodgers will need to find an attacking spark sooner rather than later.
Stats graphicImage source, SNS
St Mirren kept the Parkhead side at arm’s length for the majority of the contest, limiting them to shots from distance.
Daizen Maeda struggled to influence the game against the impressive Alex Gogic, while Johnny Kenny was substituted at half-time after failing to make an impact.
St Mirren have now failed to win in six league outings, around their superb League Cup semi-final victory over Motherwell.
Those results do not reflect some of the performances in that time, though, and based on this showing, they will climb the Premiership sooner rather than later.
Gogic was immense at the back, John was a threat with his direct running and left-footed delivery, while Mandron led the line well and caused Celtic problems with his physicality and work-rate.
They will certainly fancy their chances of springing a shock when they next face Celtic at the national stadium next month.
What they said
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: “The performance was very good. We’ve run Celtic very close, been beat by a fantastic goal.
“We had numerous chances ourselves, we pressed them well, showed good quality but the thing we’re in control of is finishing those chances. The fine margins are going against us at this moment in time.
“Decisions have to start going for you at some stage. We have to keep producing those performances and trying to catch the teams above us.
“[Conor McMenamin] is not in line with the goalkeeper, does not touch the defender – Liam doesn’t see him at all. That’s not a factual decision of offside, it’s a subjective decision, which the referee should be called over for. I’m sure they’ll create some sort of name for it.
“Very, very disappointed. Arguably one of the reasons we’re where we are in the league when all those small margins go against you.”
Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill: “We’ve won the game with a wonder strike from a very talented player.
“A lot of frustration too. We didn’t create enough, we didn’t take care of the ball well enough, but I’m relieved we’ve won.
“The minute he got himself a little angle on the edge of the box, I thought ‘he’s going to score here’.
“There’s relief as much as anything else, but you enjoy winning football matches – that’s what it’s about. It keeps confidence alive as much as anything else and keeps momentum going.”
O’Neill calls for Celtic ‘unification’ – but is fan unrest affecting team?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c5yjww095lko
Celtic fans hold up red cards as part of their protest against the boardImage source, SNS
Image caption,
Celtic fans held up red cards in Paisley as part of their efforts to oust members of the club’s board
ByGeorge O’Neill
BBC Sport Scotland
22/11/25
Watch on iPlayer
Interim manager Martin O’Neill says Celtic need “some sort of unification”, after fans once again called for changes in the way the club is run during their dramatic Scottish Premiership victory over St Mirren on Saturday.
“Sack the board” rang out from the away end at both the start and end of the contest in Paisley, which Celtic won thanks to Callum McGregor’s 95th-minute piledriver.
It is the latest in a series of protests against the Celtic leadership, who supporters believe have allowed the club to regress.
Results both domestically and in Europe have slumped since the turn of the year.
Celtic trail Hearts by four points in the Scottish Premiership and failed to qualify for the Champions League after a dismal play-off defeat by Kazakh champions Kairat. They have since won only one of their four Europa League matches.
Much-needed attacking signings only came after they dropped out of Europe’s top club competition, with fans saying it was all too little, too late.
McGregor’s stunning late strike at St Mirren edges Celtic within four of Hearts
‘Sad’ day as Celtic abandon AGM amid ‘sack the board’ chants
Latest Celtic news, analysis and fan views
O’Neill, 73, was parachuted back into the Celtic manager’s role after Brendan Rodgers resigned in late October, exposing a rift between himself and majority shareholder Dermot Desmond.
Former Northern Ireland midfielder O’Neill – twice a European Cup winner with Nottingham Forest – is a Celtic legend after winning seven major honours as manager between 2000 and 2005.
However, fans have continued to protest despite one of their heroes returning, determined to force change in the boardroom.
The club’s AGM was abandoned on Friday when shareholders jeered Desmond’s son Ross for accusing some fans of being “bullies”.
It had earlier been adjourned for half an hour by chairman Peter Lawwell following chants of “sack the board”
O’Neill called it “as sad a morning” as he had seen and recalled legendary predecessor Jock Stein saying “a club not united would never be successful”.
“We just need some sort of unification again,” he added after the St Mirren win.
“I know I made the point about Jock’s team, but Jock’s team, that’s what he built. He built the football club in unification – fans and players and team and everybody else going in the same way.”
Off-field drama affecting on-field performance?
McGregor’s magnificent goal papered over some large cracks against St Mirren.
Celtic have failed to score in six matches this season, have scored fewer in the league than both Hearts and Hibernian, and were blunt again against St Mirren.
It took until second-half injury time for O’Neill’s side to have an effort on target – a tame header from substitute Yang Hyun-Jun. It took a moment of magic from McGregor to turn one point into three.
For large stages of the match, it looked as though it might have been zero.
Conor McMenamin twice went close in the first half, Miguel Freckleton spooned an excellent chance over the bar, and Liam Scales put through his own goal, only to be spared his blushes by an offside flag against McMenamin.
It was put to the former Leicester City, Aston Villa and Republic of Ireland boss that off-field dramas might have affected the Celtic players on the pitch.
“When it was a continuation of not really supporting the team tonight, and it was just ‘sack the board’ the whole way through, there’s an element that it might [affect the team],” O’Neill said.
“I don’t think it helps, but the one thing we don’t lack is unity within the dressing room.”
‘Stein would have sorted it in two days’
O’Neill expects to be in charge for Thursday’s Europa League trip to Feyenoord
It is now nearly a month since O’Neill was summoned by Desmond to take interim charge and there is still no indication that a permanent appointment is close.
Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy is reportedly the leading candidate, while Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna and Wales boss Craig Bellamy have also been linked.
O’Neill expects to take charge of Thursday’s Europa League match at Feyenoord, but believes the new manager – whoever they might be – is capable of healing the rift between fans and board.
“I absolutely do,” he said. “Jock Stein would have sorted it out in two days, but that was Jock Stein. We were just followers after that.”
When asked if he thinks he can help soften the divide, O’Neill simply said he hopes the club can move in the same direction moving forwards.
“You have to know your place here,” he said. “What you did or were part of 20-odd years ago, I don’t think makes a heap of a difference.
“But I would love to see it, regardless of who comes in or where I go. It would be great. And I’d be hopeful at some stage or another that that would happen.”
McGregor blasts Celtic to victory with last-gasp winner against St Mirren
First Team
By Matthew Campbell
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22 Nov 2025, 10:02 pm
Scottish Premiership
Saturday, November 22, 2025
SMiSA Stadium, Paisley
ST MIRREN…0
CELTIC…1
(McGregor 90 +5)
Celtic took all three points from tonight’s match against St Mirren in dramatic fashion, with Callum McGregor snatching victory for Celtic with an incredible finish in the dying seconds of stoppage time.
The home side had fashioned the first chance of the match early in proceedings when the ball was flashed across the face of the Celtic goal and looked destined for the back of the net, but to Celtic’s relief, the two St Mirren players who were sliding in to direct it on target were unable to make contact and the score remained 0-0.
The hosts continued looking for chances, but the next opportunity would go the way of the Celts, with Sebastian Tounekti curling an effort just over the bar from the edge of the box after a display of quick feet on the left wing.
Tounekti’s effort seemed to energise Celtic, and they began to piece together some nice passing moves as they attempted to work their way in to the final third.
However, with 25 minutes gone, Conor McMenamin found himself with a good shooting opportunity from the edge of the box and the St Mirren midfielder was left despairing after his effort from the edge of the box hit the post.
The home side looked the likelier of the two teams to open the scoring before the break and as the half entered the final few minutes, they found themselves with another chance, this time Miguel Freckleton’s effort from inside the box went over the bar.
27%
Possession
73%
13
Shots
16
2
Shots On Target
2
2
Corners
4
10
Fouls
8
2
0
Cards
1
0
Martin O’Neill made one change at half-time, with Luke McCowan replacing Johnny Kenny and Daizen Maeda being moved to the striker’s position and, within seconds of the restart, McCowan almost set up Daizen Maeda in a dangerous position, with the St Mirren back line forced to produce some last-ditch defending.
With the pace of Maeda now through the middle, Celtic looked more willing to send the ball over the top and give him the opportunity to utilise his speed, which caused the home side’s defence a few problems as they tried to keep Celtic at bay.
With 20 minutes of the match to go, St Mirren had the ball in the back of the net after Liam Scales got the last touch and knocked the ball over Kasper Schmeichel, but McMenamin was adjudged to have been in an active offside position.
With just over 10 minutes to play, a dangerous cross in to the box from Liam Scales was met by Daizen Maeda, whose glancing header carried the ball towards Luke McCowan at the back post. Any touch from McCowan would have made it 1-0 to Celtic but the midfielder was unable to make contact with the ball which drifted out for a goal-kick.
Kasper Schmeichel was then called in to action when a slip from Arne Engels allowed St Mirren to sweep forward on the attack. Declan John found himself with only the Celtic keeper to beat, but Schmeichel was equal to the effort and the score remained 0-0.
Just when it looked like the game was heading for a goalless draw, Callum McGregor grabbed all three points for the Hoops with an extraordinary finish.
The ball broke to the captain on the edge of the box and he unleashed an incredible strike in to the top corner, sparking wild scenes of celebration in the away end as Celtic snatched a 1-0 win.
St. Mirren: George, Fraser, Gogic, Freckleton, Richardson (King 82′), Phillips, Baccus (Donnelly 93′), McMenamin (Taylor 81′), John, Mandron, Nlundulu (Ayunga 67′)
Subs: Donnelly, King, Idowu, Ayunga, Dijksteel, Sobowale, Taylor, Mooney, Tamosevicius
Celtic: Schmeichel, Ralston (Nygren 72′), Trusty, Scales, Tierney (Murray 72′), Engels (Donovan 85′), McGregor, Hatate, Maeda, Kenny (McCowan 45′), Tounekti (Hyunjun Yang 67′)
Subs: Nygren, Balikwisha, Sinisalo, Hyunjun Yang, McCowan, Yamada, Paulo Bernardo, Murray, Donovan
Martin O’Neill: It was a brilliant goal from a brilliant player
First Team
By Paul Cuddihy, Celtic View Editor
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22 Nov 2025, 10:42 pm
Martin O’Neill was pleased that Celtic took all three points with a 1-0 win over St Mirren in Paisley, even if he admitted the team could perform much better.
The victory came with almost the last kick of the ball when Callum McGregor fired home a stunning strike from the edge of the area, which certainly pleased his manager.
Speaking to Celtic TV after the game, Martin O’Neill said: “It’s a fantastic goal and it probably didn’t belong in the game tonight but, even so, it was a brilliant goal from a really brilliant player.
“I thought we could do much, much better in the game and I didn’t think we created a great deal in the course of the match.
“We got better in the second-half, but even so, St Mirren wouldn’t give us an inch and it was a tough game. But we’ve won a match that was heading for a draw.
“I thought we were pedestrian in the first-half and didn’t really create things. Then we kept losing possession so cheaply at times, so all those things you can definitely improve on.
“The win certainly keeps the momentum going and this is the most important thing.
“And despite the fact that we were inconsistent with our passing and our movement, I thought that was brilliant just to go and get the three points on the board away from home, where we had lost the last few matches away in the league. It keeps it going and naturally I’m delighted.”
‘Not really supporting the team’ – Martin O’Neill has words for Celtic support as St Mirren fume over decision
By Graeme Macpherson
1Comment
Published 22nd Nov 2025, 23:18 GMT
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Interim Celtic boss calls for peace after late winner in Paisley
Martin O’Neill admitted Callum McGregor’s last-gasp strike got Celtic out of jail at St Mirren as he called for unity between the club and its supporters.
The visitors looked set to drop points following a poor performance only for McGregor to break the deadlock with a thunderous effort in the fifth minute of time added on.
The victory helped keep up the pressure on league leaders Hearts who play Aberdeen on Sunday but O’Neill admitted it had been scarcely deserved given how poorly Celtic had played for much of the contest.
He said: “It was massive. Absolutely massive. It was a great goal from a great player. The game was obviously heading for a draw.
“I’m not so sure that we deserved any more than that. But Callum scored a fabulous goal. Strangely enough, I thought he moved it out of his feet just at the edge of the box and thought he could hit this. So it was a great goal. Maybe it didn’t belong with the game, but it was just great to win.
“To win in that manner just at the end of the game was great, but I don’t think it was what St Mirren deserved. We never dealt properly with the ball. When we were in decent possession, we gave it away cheaply.
“I thought we improved a bit in the second half. We got a bit more momentum going in the second half, but still, we were just cheap at giving the ball away.
“Naturally, I’m delighted we won because if we had played really, really well and got beaten tonight, then it’s just a host of frustrations. We’ve just got to be better.”
A day after the club’s bad-tempered fractious AGM, the travelling support again barracked the board throughout the 90 minutes.
O’Neill, who says he’s unsure if he will still be in charge for the midweek Europa League match away to Feyenoord, felt the ongoing discord was not helping matters and hoped a mediatory could be found to help re-establish peace.
He added: “I probably don’t think (it affects things). But I’m not sure when it was a continuation of not really supporting the team tonight.
“It was “sack the board” the whole way through. I think there’s perhaps just an element that… Daizen Maeda probably wouldn’t know what “sack the board” is. But I don’t think it’ll help.
“They paid their money, they came here tonight. And obviously the scenes at the end were terrific in that sense. 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.”
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson was furious with the decision to rule out a Liam Scales own goal, given for Conor McMenamin being in an offside position.
He added: “The fine margins of football have gone against us again. We’ve a goal disallowed and they’ll probably make up some reason again to justify it again.
“Conor is not in line with the goalkeeper and Scales doesn’t see him. So that has to be a subjective decision for the referee to make. And he’s not even called over (to the VAR screen).
“That’s hard to take as it’s four goals in four games now disallowed.”
Callum McGregor worldy saves Celtic from stumble but no sign of ceasefire as protests continue
By Graeme Macpherson
1Comment
Published 22nd Nov 2025, 22:56 GMT
Updated 22nd Nov 2025, 22:56 GMT
Late winner floors St Mirren as harsh lesson handed out
Winning matches will never entirely appease the increasingly disgruntled element of the Celtic support but it certainly won’t do any harm.
Celtic captain Callum McGregor celebrates his late winner against St Mirren. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)
Celtic captain Callum McGregor celebrates his late winner against St Mirren. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group) | SNS Group
Martin O’Neill’s side were poor for the majority of an attritional contest at St Mirren, creating little and lacking poise or purpose.
They looked on course to drop league points for the first time since O’Neill returned to take temporary charge but Callum McGregor had other ideas.
Taking the ball around 25 yards out and with the clock having ticked into the 95th minute, the Celtic captain lashed an unstoppable shot high past goalkeeper Shamal George to break the deadlock in thrilling fashion, another worldy in a week of spectacular strikes.
Celtic captain Callum McGregor celebrates his late winner against St Mirren. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)
Celtic captain Callum McGregor celebrates his late winner against St Mirren. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group) | SNS Group
That was cruel on the home side who again learned the painful lesson that missing chances will often come back to haunt you come the final reckoning.
That couldn’t have been further from the Celtic supporters’ minds as they poured onto the Paisley pitch before raucously hailing O’Neill and his players at the final whistle.
That O’Neill was still in charge at all for this one was a sign of how slow progress has been in recruiting a permanent successor to Brendan Rodgers, with even O’Neill surprised that he was still needed as interim boss for a fifth outing.
A deal to land Wilfried Nancy from Columbus Crew had been expected to have been completed during the international break but any chance to ask the Celtic hierarchy about that was lost amid the acrimonious squabble that was the club’s annual general meeting on Friday.
The ever-growing disconnect between support and board likely wouldn’t deter any prospective managerial candidate but there is little prospect of a ceasefire breaking out any time soon. The 1600 or so travelling fans aired the first “sack the board” chants before the teams came out accompanied by the red cards waved at the AGM and a sole banner that read “Baillieston against the board”.
More pressingly for O’Neill was the lengthy injured list that deprived him here of Cameron Carter-Vickers, Kelechi Iheanacho, James Forrest, Marcelo Saracchi, Alistair Johnston and Callum Osmand for a match that also served as a dress rehearsal for next month’s Premier Sports Cup final.
Perhaps as a result of that injury list, the ongoing off-field turmoil or the unaccustomed Saturday 8pm kick off, Celtic just couldn’t get going in the opening period, with passes regularly going astray and one attempted shot from Johnny Kenny sliced so badly it almost sailed over the roof of the stand.
Not for the first time this season, their most creative outlet was Sebastian Tounetki. The winger always looked eager to make something happen whenever play came his way and one driven effort wasn’t far off target.
This was O’Neill’s first away league match of his second spell and it was turning into one to forget as St Mirren pressed and cajoled his players. They should have been at least one goal to the good by the interval, perhaps two. Conor McMenamin, deployed as a roving No.10, missed the best of them after just seven minutes. Declan John’s cross from the left couldn’t have been better placed and McMenamin, stretching, got a toe onto it but touched it wide of goal.
Undeterred, the Northern Irishman had another bash later in the half from distance that grazed the outside of the post before Miguel Freckleton lashed another effort over the top just before the half-time whistle. At that point you didn’t have to be the most pessimistic of Paisley punters to suspect they would likely regret such profligacy. And so it proved.
O’Neill brought on Luke McCowan for the ineffective Kenny at half-time and stuck Daizen Maeda through the middle where his pace and energy immediately provided Celtic with a greater focal point. It also set up an intriguing battle of mind and muscle between Maeda and Alex Gogic, something that Kenny had failed to provide in the first period.
St Mirren still had the better of the chances – Jayden Richardson saw his shot well blocked by Kieran Tierney – but there was a far greater menace about Celtic as they penned their hosts back in their box. When the ball did finally land in the net after 70 minutes, Liam Scales was spared the embarrassment of having scored an own goal by McMenamin being flagged for offside.
It looked like both teams would need to settle for a point apiece but McGregor had other ideas, his winning strike arriving late on and fit to win any game.
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