Celtic Edge Out St Mirren to Stay Hot on Hearts' Heels

Celtic maintained their pursuit of Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over St Mirren. A solitary first-half strike from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain proved enough for Martin O'Neill's men to leapfrog Rangers into second place, keeping them within three points of the top spot. Despite a blistering start, Celtic struggled to find their rhythm, with Oxlade-Chamberlain's 15th-minute goal - his first attempt having been ruled out for offside - ultimately deciding the contest. The hosts created several opportunities to extend their lead, but St Mirren's dogged defense and a few missed chances meant the margin remained slim. Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho spurned the best chance to seal the win, poking wide from close range in the second half. This encounter marked the first meeting between the two sides since St Mirren's surprise 3-1 win in the Premier Sports Cup last December, but a repeat never seemed likely. The Green Brigade, back in Celtic Park for the first time since November, were in fine voice, setting the tone for next week's Scottish Cup semi-final. After an early disallowed goal, Celtic broke the deadlock when Benjamin Nygren found Callum McGregor, whose shot was blocked, allowing Kieran Tierney to pick out Oxlade-Chamberlain for the decisive strike. St Mirren's rare forays forward yielded little, with Jonah Ayunga and Miguel Freckleton's early efforts their most notable. As the game wore on, Celtic's pressure waned, and the visitors enjoyed a stronger second half, albeit without creating clear-cut chances. Post-match, Celtic manager Martin O'Neill expressed concerns over his team's energy levels, particularly in the second half, while St Mirren boss Craig McLeish rued his side's inability to capitalize on their decent performance, citing a lack of creativity in the final third.