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

Celtic have kept their title hopes alive with a narrow 1-0 victory over St Mirren, moving them into second place in the Scottish Premiership and within three points of leaders Hearts. A first-half goal from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain proved to be the decisive factor, as Celtic struggled to find their rhythm despite a promising start. Oxlade-Chamberlain's strike, which came after just 15 minutes, was initially preceded by a disallowed goal due to offside. The visitors, St Mirren, had limited opportunities to level the score, with their only shot on target coming from Jonah Ayunga, who fired wide after a mazy run into the box. Celtic, on the other hand, missed several chances to extend their lead, with substitute Kelechi Iheanacho squandering the best opportunity when he poked the ball wide from close range in the second half. This match marked the first encounter between the two teams since St Mirren's surprise 3-1 win in the Premier Sports Cup back in December. However, a repeat of that outcome never seemed likely, as Celtic dominated possession and created more scoring chances. The Green Brigade, who were allowed back into Celtic Park for the first time since November, were in high spirits, providing vocal support for their team in what served as a dress rehearsal for next week's Scottish Cup semi-final. After a period of sustained pressure, Celtic thought they had taken the lead when Callum McGregor's shot was parried by Shamal George, only for Oxlade-Chamberlain to bury the rebound, but the goal was disallowed due to offside. St Mirren's Miguel Freckleton had a shot saved by Viljami Sinisalo, while Celtic's Tomas Cvancara nearly doubled the lead with a sliding effort that collided with George, who was subsequently replaced by Ryan Mullen due to injury. The second half was characterized by a midfield battle, with few clear-cut chances created by either side. Celtic manager Martin O'Neill expressed concerns over his team's lack of energy, stating, 'We won the game, which was the most important thing, but we lacked energy. Sometimes it happens, especially when you're chasing the title and playing catch-up all the time.' St Mirren boss Craig McLeish, on the other hand, was disappointed with the outcome, citing his team's inability to create scoring opportunities in the final third. 'We're missing that little bit of creativity, that spark, to create some more chances from open play,' he said.