Celtic Claim Hard-Fought Victory Over St Mirren to Maintain Pressure on Leaders Hearts

Celtic secured a crucial 1-0 win over St Mirren to stay within three points of Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts. The decisive goal came in the 15th minute when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored, following an earlier effort that was ruled out for offside. Despite dominating possession, Celtic struggled to extend their lead, with substitute Kelechi Iheanacho missing a golden opportunity in the second half. St Mirren, on the other hand, had limited chances, with their best effort coming from Jonah Ayunga, who fired wide after a mazy run. The visitors' goalkeeper, Shamal George, was forced off with an injury, and his replacement, Ryan Mullen, made several key saves to keep his team in the game. Celtic manager Martin O'Neill expressed concerns over his team's energy levels, while St Mirren boss Craig McLeish was disappointed with the defeat but encouraged by his team's performance in the second half.