Celtic Secures Slim Win Over St Mirren to Maintain Pressure on Leaders Hearts

Celtic has kept the pressure on Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts with a narrow 1-0 victory over St Mirren. The winning goal came from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the first half, allowing Martin O'Neill's team to move into second place above Rangers and remain three points behind Hearts, who secured a late win over Motherwell. Despite a strong start, Celtic struggled to find their rhythm, with Oxlade-Chamberlain's early strike being the difference maker. The hosts had a goal ruled out for offside and saw substitute Kelechi Iheanacho miss a chance to seal the win. St Mirren, on the other hand, had limited opportunities, with only one shot on target. This match was the first meeting between the two teams since St Mirren's surprise 3-1 win in the Premier Sports Cup in December. The Green Brigade, back in Celtic Park for the first time since November, provided lively support in a game that served as a warm-up for next week's Scottish Cup semi-final. Celtic thought they had taken an early lead, but Oxlade-Chamberlain's rebound was ruled out for offside. St Mirren's Jonah Ayunga and Miguel Freckleton attempted to make an impact, but Celtic took the lead when Oxlade-Chamberlain scored after a blocked shot. The second half saw a more evenly matched contest, with few clear chances. Celtic manager Martin O'Neill expressed concern over his team's energy levels, while St Mirren boss Craig McLeish praised his team's performance but lamented the lack of creativity in the final third.