St Mirren 1 -3 Celtic: Second half goalfest nets Celtic the points

Second-half goals from Georgios Samaras, Shunsuke Nakamura and substitute Cillian Sheridan gave Celtic victory over St Mirren in their Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash at Love Street.

It was a comfortable win in the end for Gordon Strachan's side, but the game arguably turned on a first-half incident in which Hoops goalkeeper Artur Boruc was only yellow-carded by referee Willie Collum for a foul on Craig Dargo when he appeared to be the last man.

In the 15th minute Dargo raced clear of the Celtic defence in pursuit of Garry Brady's searching pass only to be sent crashing to the ground by Boruc 10 yards outside the penalty area.

The tackle itself – far less where it occurred – appeared to be reckless enough to ensure a red card.

However, to the anger of the home support, Collum issued only a yellow card to the Poland international and the visitors survived the free-kick which only added to the Buddies' ire.

The champions took advantage of their good fortune to romp away after the break although they lost a late consolation to Saints substitute Jim Hamilton, who had replaced Dennis Wyness in the closing stages.

Celtic's final visit to Love Street before St Mirren leave for their new ground appeared to offer up three relatively easy points for the visitors, who had not lost in Paisley since 1990.

With Gary Caldwell in midfield to add some ballast, the champions looked comfortable in the early stages.

In the seventh minute Parkhead defender Mark Wilson robbed Saints full-back Jack Ross and stormed down the left and into the Buddies penalty area.

His cut-back found Scott McDonald whose left-footed shot from 14 yards was tipped past the far post by Mark Howard, the St Mirren keeper clutching the resulting corner from Nakamura.

As the game slowly warmed up, Howard pulled off a fine close-range block at his post from Andreas Hinkel who had raced on to collect a clever flick from Samaras.

In the 14th minute St Mirren defender Franco Miranda sent in a looping corner from the right which struck the bar.

Seconds later Celtic enjoyed more good fortune when Boruc was allowed to stay on the park but it was not a great first half of football.
In the 29th minute Nakamura set up Scott Brown with the best pass of the game, the Scotland international revealing his biggest flaw by putting the ball over the bar from barely six yards out.

The game trudged along and in the 35th minute St Mirren stopper John Potter fouled McDonald a foot outside the Saints penalty area and Samaras sent the free-kick curling past the far post.

On a freezing day in Paisley, Saints fans kept themselves warm at half-time complaining heatedly to each other about Collum's decision not to show Boruc a red card.

St Mirren then enjoyed their best spell and Brown had to clear for a corner after Dargo had skipped past Stephen McManus and cut the ball back into the danger area.

Celtic's greater aerial threat meant they dealt with the set-piece easily but the Paisley side were making enough headway for Strachan to introduce Shaun Maloney for Barry Robson just after the hour mark.
And within two minutes the Parkhead side were ahead.

Hinkel took a Maloney pass and raced unattended down the right-hand side, and when his cross came into the middle, Samaras calmly flicked
it past Howard at the near post.
Two minutes later Nakamura ensured the points when he took a Samaras pass, cut inside Miranda and guided the ball into the far corner from 12 yards out.
St Mirren's resistance was broken. Celtic attacked with more purpose as the home side's forays became less convincing.
Sheridan came on for Samaras in the 76th minute and three minutes later the gangly Irishman tapped into an empty net after being set up by McDonald.
Two minute from the end Hamilton headed past Boruc from Miranda's cross for a Saints consolation which, to the seething Buddies, was no consolation at all.