Celtic Edge Out St Mirren to Maintain Pressure on Premiership Leaders Hearts

Celtic secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over St Mirren, keeping the pressure on Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts. The win, courtesy of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's first-half goal, propelled Martin O'Neill's side into second place, three points adrift of Hearts. Despite a strong start, Celtic struggled to impose their dominance, with Oxlade-Chamberlain's 15th-minute strike proving the difference. St Mirren, who stunned Celtic with a 3-1 win in the Premier Sports Cup in December, were limited to few scoring opportunities, with substitute Kelechi Iheanacho missing a gilt-edged chance to seal the win for the hosts. The victory marked a welcome return to form for Celtic, who prepare to face St Mirren again in the Scottish Cup semi-final next week. Celtic manager Martin O'Neill expressed concerns over his team's energy levels, while St Mirren boss Craig McLeish praised his side's performance, lamenting the lack of creativity in the final third.